EP2056872A2 - Variants d'hémagglutinine et de neuraminidase de la grippe - Google Patents

Variants d'hémagglutinine et de neuraminidase de la grippe

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Publication number
EP2056872A2
EP2056872A2 EP07840814A EP07840814A EP2056872A2 EP 2056872 A2 EP2056872 A2 EP 2056872A2 EP 07840814 A EP07840814 A EP 07840814A EP 07840814 A EP07840814 A EP 07840814A EP 2056872 A2 EP2056872 A2 EP 2056872A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
virus
influenza virus
polypeptide
seq
polynucleotide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07840814A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2056872A4 (fr
Inventor
Chin-Fen Yang
George Kemble
Kanta Subbarao
Brian Murphy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Government Of United States, Nat
MedImmune LLC
Original Assignee
National Institutes of Health NIH
MedImmune Vaccines Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by National Institutes of Health NIH, MedImmune Vaccines Inc filed Critical National Institutes of Health NIH
Publication of EP2056872A2 publication Critical patent/EP2056872A2/fr
Publication of EP2056872A4 publication Critical patent/EP2056872A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/12—Viral antigens
    • A61K39/145—Orthomyxoviridae, e.g. influenza virus
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/12—Viral antigens
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
    • A61P31/12—Antivirals
    • A61P31/14—Antivirals for RNA viruses
    • A61P31/16—Antivirals for RNA viruses for influenza or rhinoviruses
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
    • A61P37/04—Immunostimulants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/005—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from viruses
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N7/00—Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/51—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising whole cells, viruses or DNA/RNA
    • A61K2039/525—Virus
    • A61K2039/5252—Virus inactivated (killed)
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/51—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising whole cells, viruses or DNA/RNA
    • A61K2039/525—Virus
    • A61K2039/5254—Virus avirulent or attenuated
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/54—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the route of administration
    • A61K2039/541—Mucosal route
    • A61K2039/543—Mucosal route intranasal
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2760/00—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA ssRNA viruses negative-sense
    • C12N2760/00011—Details
    • C12N2760/16011—Orthomyxoviridae
    • C12N2760/16111—Influenzavirus A, i.e. influenza A virus
    • C12N2760/16122—New viral proteins or individual genes, new structural or functional aspects of known viral proteins or genes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2760/00—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA ssRNA viruses negative-sense
    • C12N2760/00011—Details
    • C12N2760/16011—Orthomyxoviridae
    • C12N2760/16111—Influenzavirus A, i.e. influenza A virus
    • C12N2760/16134—Use of virus or viral component as vaccine, e.g. live-attenuated or inactivated virus, VLP, viral protein
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2760/00—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA ssRNA viruses negative-sense
    • C12N2760/00011—Details
    • C12N2760/16011—Orthomyxoviridae
    • C12N2760/16111—Influenzavirus A, i.e. influenza A virus
    • C12N2760/16161—Methods of inactivation or attenuation
    • C12N2760/16164—Methods of inactivation or attenuation by serial passage

Definitions

  • Vaccines against various and evolving strains of influenza are important from a community health stand point, as well as commercially, since each year numerous individuals are infected with different strains and types of influenza virus. Infants, the elderly, those without adequate health care and immuno-compromised persons are at special risk of death from such infections. Compounding the problem of influenza infections is that novel influenza strains evolve readily and can spread amongst various species, thereby necessitating the continuous production of new vaccines.
  • influenza vaccines are continually desired.
  • Such vaccines typically are created using antigenic moieties of the newly emergent virus strains , thus, polypeptides and polynucleotides of novel, newly emergent, or newly re-emergent virus strains (especially sequences of antigenic genes) are highly desirable.
  • the present invention provides new and/or newly isolated influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants that are capable of use in production of numerous types of vaccines as well as in research, diagnostics, etc. Numerous other benefits will become apparent upon review of the following. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • the invention comprises an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that is selected from: any one of the polypeptides encoded by SEQ ID NO:1 through SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO:21 through SEQ ID NO:26 or SEQ ID NO:33 through SEQ ID NO:38; any one of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:11 through SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:27 through SEQ ID NO:32 or SEQ ID NO:39 through SEQ ID NO:44; only the open reading frame encoding the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO: 11 through SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:27 through SEQ ID NO:32 or SEQ ID NO:39 through SEQ ID NO:44; any alternative (e.g., the mature form without the signal peptide, or without the 5' and 3' sequences outside of the open reading frame, or the sequences as expressed on the surface of a virus (e.g., influenza)) form of the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:
  • the isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention are substantially identical to about 300 contiguous amino acid residues of any of the above polypeptides.
  • the invention comprises isolated or recombinant polypeptides, that comprise an amino acid sequence that is substantially identical over at least about 350 amino acids; over at least about 400 amino acids; over at least about 450 amino acids; over at least about 500 amino acids; over at least about 520 amino acids; over at least about 550 amino acids; over at least about 559 amino acids; over at least about 565 amino acids; or over at least about 566 amino acids contiguous of any of the above polypeptides.
  • the polypeptide sequence (e.g., as listed in "SEQUENCES” herein) comprises less than 565, 559, etc. amino acids. In such embodiments, the shorter listed polypeptides optionally comprise less than 565, 559, etc. amino acids. In yet other embodiments, the polypeptides of the invention optionally comprise fusion proteins, proteins with a leader sequence, a precursor polypeptide, proteins with a secretion signal or a localization signal, or proteins with an epitope tag, an E-tag, or a His epitope tag.
  • the invention comprises a polypeptide comprising a sequence having at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 93%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 98.5%, at least 99%, at least 99.2%, at least 99.4%, at least 99.6%, at least 99.8%, or at least 99.9% sequence identity to at least one polypeptide listed above.
  • the hemagglutinin sequences of the invention can comprise both those sequences with unmodified and modified polybasic cleavage sites (thereby allowing growth of the viruses in eggs).
  • the hemagglutinin polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NOS:11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 27, 29, 31, 39, 41, or 43 comprise the endogenous amino terminal signal peptide sequences, however, the hemagglutinin polypeptide sequences of the invention also include the mature (amino terminal signal peptide cleaved) form of the hemagglutinin polypeptides.
  • the cleavage sites of any hemagglutinin polypeptide sequence of any influenza strain can be routinely measured or predicted using any number of methods in the art.
  • the invention comprises a composition with one or more polypeptide listed above, or fragments thereof.
  • the invention also includes polypeptides that are specifically bound by a polyclonal antisera raised against at least 1 antigen that comprises at least one amino acid sequence described above, or a fragment thereof.
  • Such antibodies specific for the polypeptides described above are also features of the invention.
  • the polypeptides of the invention are optionally immunogenic.
  • the invention also encompasses immunogenic compositions comprising an immunologically effective amount of one or more of any of the polypeptides described above as well as methods for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus by administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of any of the above polypeptides in a physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • the invention includes recombinant influenza virus that comprises one or more of the polypeptides or polynucleotides above, in addition to immunogenic compositions comprising an immunologically effective amount of such recombinant influenza virus.
  • Methods for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus, through administering an immunologically effective amount of such recombinant influenza virus in a physiologically acceptable carrier are also part of the invention.
  • the invention comprises an isolated or recombinant nucleic acid that is selected from: any one of the polynucleotide sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 10 or SEQ ID NO:21 through SEQ ID NO:26 or SEQ ID NO:33 through SEQ ID NO:38, or SEQ ID NO:45 (or complementary sequences thereof), any one of the polynucleotide sequences encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:11 through SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:27 through SEQ ID NO:32 or SEQ ID NO:39 through SEQ ID NO:44 (or complementary polynucleotide sequences thereof), a polynucleotide sequence which hybridizes under highly stringent conditions over substantially the entire length of any of the above polynucleotide sequences, and a polynucleotide sequence comprising all or a fragment of any of such polynucleotide sequences wherein the sequence preferably encodes a
  • the invention also includes an isolated or recombinant nucleic acid that encodes an amino acid sequence which is substantially identical over at least about 300 amino acids of any polypeptide encoded by the above nucleic acids, or over at least about 350 amino acids; over at least about 400 amino acids; over at least about 450 amino acids; over at least about 500 amino acids; over at least about 502 amino acids; over at least about 550 amino acids; over at least about 559 amino acids; over at least about 565 amino acids; or over at least about 566 amino acids of any polypeptide encoded by the above nucleic acids.
  • the amino acid is less than, e.g., 566, 565, 559, etc.
  • the invention also includes any of the above nucleic acids that comprise a polynucleotide encoding a hemagglutinin or neuraminidase polypeptide, or one or more fragments of one or more hemagglutinin or neuraminidase polypeptide.
  • inventions include isolated or recombinant nucleic acids that encode a polypeptide (optionally a hemagglutinin or neuraminidase polypeptide) whose sequence has at least 98% identity, at least 98.5% identity, at least 99% identity, at least 99.2% identity, at least 99.4% identity, at least 99.6% identity, at least 99.8% identity, or at least 99.9% identity to at least one of the above described polynucleotides.
  • the invention also includes isolated or recombinant nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide of hemagglutinin or neuraminidase produced by mutating or recombining one or more above described polynucleotide sequences.
  • the polynucleotide sequences of the invention can optionally comprise one or more of, e.g., a leader sequence, a precursor sequence, or an epitope tag sequence or the like, and can optionally encode a fusion protein (e.g., with one or more additional nucleic acid sequences).
  • the invention comprises a composition of matter having two or more above described nucleic acids (e.g., a library comprising at least about 2, 5, 10, 50 or more nucleic acids).
  • Such compositions can optionally be produced by cleaving one or more above described nucleic acid (e.g., mechanically, chemically, enzymatically with a restriction endonuclease/RNAse/DNAse, etc.).
  • Other compositions of the invention include, e.g., compositions produced by incubating one or more above described nucleic acid in the presence of deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates and a thermostable nucleic acid polymerase.
  • the invention also encompasses cells comprising at least one of the above described nucleic acids, or a cleaved or amplified fragment or product thereof. Such cells can optionally express a polypeptide encoded by such nucleic acid.
  • Other embodiments of the invention include vectors (e.g., plasmids, cosmids, phage, viruses, virus fragments, etc.) comprising any of above described nucleic acids. Such vectors can optionally comprise an expression vector.
  • Preferred expression vectors of the invention include, but are not limited to, vectors comprising pol I promoter and terminator sequences or vectors using both the pol I and pol II promoters "the poll/polll promoter system" (e.g., Zobel et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 1993, 21 :3607; US20020164770; Neumann et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1999, 96:9345; Fodor et al., J. Virol. 1999, 73:9679; and US20030035814). Cells transduced by such vectors are also within the current invention.
  • the poll/polll promoter system e.g., Zobel et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 1993, 21 :3607; US20020164770; Neumann et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1999, 96:9345; Fodor et al., J. Virol.
  • the invention encompasses a virus (e.g., an influenza virus) comprising one or more above described nucleic acids (e.g., encoding hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase), or one or more fragments thereof.
  • a virus e.g., an influenza virus
  • Such viruses can comprises a reassortment virus such as a 6:2 reassortment virus (e.g., comprising 6 genes encoding regions from one or more donor virus and 2 genes encoding regions from one or more above described nucleotide sequence (or one or more fragment thereof) which can optionally comprise hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase).
  • Reassortment viruses (optionally live viruses) of the invention can include donor viruses that are one or more of, e.g., cold-sensitive, cold-adapted, or an attenuated.
  • reassortment viruses can comprise e.g., A/ Ann Arbor/6/60, PR8, etc.
  • Reassortment viruses of the invention may alternatively exclude A/Ann Arbor/6/60.
  • One preferred embodiment of the invention is a reassortant influenza virus, wherein the virus is a 6:2 reassortment influenza virus and comprises 6 gene encoding regions from A/ Ann Arbor/6/60 and 2 gene encoding regions that encode a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 11-20, SEQ ID NOS:27-32, and SEQ ID NOS:39-44.
  • a reassortant influenza virus of the invention includes a 6:2 reassortment influenza virus, wherein said virus comprises 6 gene encoding regions from one or more donor viruses other than A/ Ann Arbor/6/60 and 2 gene encoding regions that encode a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 11-20, SEQ ID NOS:27-32, and SEQ ID NOS:39-44.
  • a reassortant influenza virus of the invention includes a 6:2 reassortment influenza virus, wherein said virus comprises 6 gene encoding regions from one or more donor viruses other than A/ Ann Arbor/6/60 and 2 gene encoding regions, wherein the 2 gene encoding regions are HA or NA polypeptides from any pandemic influenza strain.
  • Methods of producing recombinant influenza virus through culturing a host cell harboring an influenza virus in a suitable culture medium under conditions permitting expression of nucleic acid and, isolating the recombinant influenza virus from one or more of the host cell or the medium are also part of the invention.
  • the invention comprises immunogenic compositions having an immunologically effective amount of any of the above described recombinant influenza virus.
  • Other embodiments include methods for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus by administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of any of the recombinant influenza virus described above (optionally in a physiologically effective carrier).
  • aspects of the invention include methods of producing an isolated or recombinant polypeptide by culturing any host cell above, in a suitable culture medium under conditions permitting expression of nucleic acid and, isolating the polypeptide from one or more of the host cells or the medium in which is the cells are grown.
  • Immunogenic compositions are also features of the invention.
  • immunogenic compositions comprising one or more of any of the polypeptides and/or nucleic acids described above and, optionally, an excipient such as a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or one or more pharmaceutically acceptable administration component.
  • Immunogenic compositions of the invention can also comprise any one or more above described virus as well (e.g., along with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable administration component).
  • Methods of producing immunogenic responses in a subject through administration of an effective amount of any of the above viruses (or immunogenic compositions) to a subject are also within the current invention.
  • methods of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a viral infection e.g., viral influenza
  • Subjects for such treatment can include mammals (e.g., humans).
  • Such methods can also comprise in vivo administration to the subject as well as in vitro or ex vivo administration to one or more cells of the subject.
  • Such methods can also comprise administration of a composition of the virus and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that are administered to the subject in an amount effect to prophylactically or therapeutically treat the viral infection.
  • the invention includes compositions of matter comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase polypeptides of one or more pandemic influenza strain and nucleic acid sequences encoding one or more polypeptide of A/ Ann Arbor/6/60. Additionally, the invention includes compositions of matter comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase polypeptides of one or more pandemic influenza strain and nucleic acid sequences encoding one or more polypeptide of PR8 or A/ Ann Arbor/6/60. Such sequences can include those listed in the "SEQUENCES" herein.
  • compositions of matter comprising sequences encoding hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase of one or more pandemic influenza strain and nucleic acid sequences encoding a selected backbone strain in a 6:2 reassortment.
  • Such compositions preferably include sequences encoding the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase selected from the "SEQUENCES" herein and a backbone strain, wherein the backbone strain is PR8 or A/ Ann Arbor/6/60.
  • the invention also includes such compositions as described above wherein the hemagglutinin comprises a modified polybasic cleavage site.
  • the invention also includes live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising such above compositions.
  • Figure 1 Shows modifications engineered into the HA gene of
  • Figure 2 Displays results showing that intranasally administered H5N1 ca reassortant viruses do not replicate in chickens.
  • Figure 3 Illustrates that the H5N1/AA ca vaccine candidates are not lethal to mice.
  • Figure 4 Illustrates that the 1997 and 2004 H5N1 ca reassortant viruses are restricted in replication in mice.
  • Figure 5 Illustrates that the reassortant H5N1/AA ca influenza viruses are restricted in replication in lungs of mice.
  • Figure 6 Shows the serum HAI Ab titers elicited in mice following a single i.n. dose of vaccine.
  • Figure 7 Shows serum neutralizing Ab titers elicited in mice following a single i.n. dose of vaccine.
  • Figure 8 Illustrates that H5N1 ca reassortant viruses protect mice from lethal challenges with 50, 500 or 5000 LD 50 of wild-type H5N1 viruses.
  • Figure 9 Illustrates the efficacy of protection from pulmonary replication of homologous and heterologous H5N1 challenge viruses in mice.
  • Figure 10 Illustrates the efficacy of protection from replication of homologous and heterologous H5N1 challenge viruses in the upper respiratory tract of mice.
  • Figure 11 Illustrates the efficacy of protection conferred by 2004 H5N1 ca vaccine against high dose (IO5TCID5O) challenge with homologous or heterologous H5N1 wt viruses in mice.
  • Figure 12 Illustrates the efficacy of protection conferred by 1997 and 2003
  • H5N1 ca vaccines against high dose (IO5TCID5O) challenges with homologous or heterologous H5N1 wild-type viruses in mice.
  • Figure 13 Illustrates the efficacy of protection conferred by 2004 H5N1 ca vaccine against low or high doses of homologous H5N1 wild-type virus challenges in mice.
  • Figure 14 Shows modifications that can be engineered into the HA gene of
  • FIG. 15 H5N1 ca vaccines elicit serum neutralizing antibody titers in mice. Sera were collected before (prebleed) and 28 days following each dose of vaccine; an undetectable titer is assigned a value of 10.
  • Figure 16 H6 ca viruses are attenuated in ferrets. *EID 50 /g for lungs; PFU/g for nasal turbinates. 10 7 TCID 50 inoculated intranasally, tissues were harvested on day 3 post-infection.
  • Figure 17 Immunogenicity of H6 ca vaccines in ferrets.
  • Figure 18(a) and 18(b) Efficacy of H6 ca vaccines in ferrets.
  • Virus titer was measured in (a) lungs and (b) nasal turbinates.
  • Vaccine 1 dose of 71ogio PFU.
  • Challenge 71ogio PFU; 3 days post-challenge.
  • FIG. 19 H7N3 BC 04 ca is attenuated in ferrets. Inoculum: 10 7 TCID 50 in
  • FIG. 20 H7N3 BC 2004 ca is immunogenic in mice, a: Reciprocal geometric mean of serum neutralizing antibody titers against ck/BC/CN-6/04 wt. b: p ⁇ 0.05 (Mann-Whitney U-test) compared to neutralization titers at 28 days post-infection.
  • Figure 21(a)-21(i): H7N3 BC 04 ca is efficacious against lethal challenge with H7 viruses in mice.
  • Efficacy against a lethal challenge of 50 LD 50 A/NL/219/03 four weeks following immunization with a single dose (d), eight weeks following immunization with a single dose (e), or eight weeks following immunization with 2 doses (2 doses administered at 4 weeks apart) (f).
  • Efficacy against a lethal challenge of 50 LD 50 A/tk/Eng/63 four weeks following immunization with a single dose (g), eight weeks following immunization with a single dose (h), or eight weeks following immunization with 2 doses (2 doses administered at 4 weeks apart) (i).
  • Figure 22(a) and (b): H7N3 BC 04 ca vaccine is efficacious in mice.
  • Virus titer was measured at 8 weeks in (a) nasal turbinates and (b) lungs.
  • Figure 23(a) and (b) : H9N2 G9/AA c ⁇ is attenuated in ferrets.
  • Virus titer was measured in (a) nasal turbinates and (b) lungs.
  • Figure 25 Replication of H9N2 G9/AA ca is highly restricted in healthy adults.
  • Figure 26 HI antibody responses to 10 70 TCID 50 of H9N2 G9/AA ca in healthy adults.
  • Figure 27 Replication of H5N1 VN2004 A/AA ca is highly restricted in healthy adults.
  • Figure 28 HI antibody responses to 10 67 TCID 50 of VN2004 A/AA ca in healthy adults.
  • the present invention includes polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences of influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase as well as vectors, compositions and the like comprising such sequences and methods of their use. Additional features of the invention are described in more detail herein.
  • a virus includes a plurality of viruses
  • a host cell includes mixtures of host cells, and the like.
  • amino acid sequence is a polymer of amino acid residues (a protein, polypeptide, etc.) or a character string representing an amino acid polymer, depending on context.
  • amino acid sequence is a polymer of amino acid residues (a protein, polypeptide, etc.) or a character string representing an amino acid polymer, depending on context.
  • nucleic acid sequence refers to single-stranded or double-stranded deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide polymers, chimeras or analogues thereof, or a character string representing such, depending on context.
  • the term optionally includes polymers of analogs of naturally occurring nucleotides having the essential nature of natural nucleotides in that they hybridize to single-stranded nucleic acids in a manner similar to naturally occurring nucleotides (e.g., peptide nucleic acids).
  • a particular nucleic acid sequence of this invention optionally encompasses complementary sequences in addition to the sequence explicitly indicated. From any specified polynucleotide sequence, either the given nucleic acid or the complementary polynucleotide sequence (e.g., the complementary nucleic acid) can be determined.
  • nucleic acid or “polynucleotide” also encompasses any physical string of monomer units that can be corresponded to a string of nucleotides, including a polymer of nucleotides (e.g., a typical DNA or RNA polymer), PNAs, modified oligonucleotides (e.g., oligonucleotides comprising bases that are not typical to biological RNA or DNA in solution, such as 2'-O-methylated oligonucleotides), and the like.
  • a nucleic acid can be e.g., single-stranded or double-stranded.
  • a "subsequence” is any portion of an entire sequence, up to and including the complete sequence. Typically, a subsequence comprises less than the full-length sequence.
  • a "unique subsequence” is a subsequence that is not found in any previously determined influenza polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence.
  • the term "variant" with respect to a polypeptide refers to an amino acid sequence that is altered by one or more amino acids with respect to a reference sequence. The variant can have “conservative" changes, wherein a substituted amino acid has similar structural or chemical properties, e.g., replacement of leucine with isoleucine.
  • a variant can have "nonconservative" changes, e.g., replacement of a glycine with a tryptophan.
  • Analogous minor variation can also include amino acid deletion or insertion, or both. Guidance in determining which amino acid residues can be substituted, inserted, or deleted without eliminating biological or immunological activity can be found using computer programs well known in the art, for example, DNASTAR software. Examples of conservative substitutions are also described herein.
  • genes are used broadly to refer to any nucleic acid associated with a biological function.
  • genes include coding sequences and/or the regulatory sequences required for their expression.
  • the term “gene” applies to a specific genomic sequence, as well as to a cDNA or an mRNA encoded by that genomic sequence.
  • Genes also include non-expressed nucleic acid segments that, for example, form recognition sequences for other proteins.
  • Non-expressed regulatory sequences include “promoters” and “enhancers,” to which regulatory proteins such as transcription factors bind, resulting in transcription of adjacent or nearby sequences.
  • a "tissue specific" promoter or enhancer is one that regulates transcription in a specific tissue type or cell type, or types.
  • “Expression of a gene” or “expression of a nucleic acid” means transcription of DNA into RNA (optionally including modification of the RNA, e.g., splicing), translation of RNA into a polypeptide (possibly including subsequent modification of the polypeptide, e.g., post-translational modification), or both transcription and translation, as indicated by the context.
  • ORF is a possible translational reading frame of DNA or RNA (e.g., of a gene), which is capable of being translated into a polypeptide. That is, the reading frame is not interrupted by stop codons.
  • ORF does not necessarily indicate that the polynucleotide is, in fact, translated into a polypeptide.
  • vector refers to the means by which a nucleic acid can be propagated and/or transferred between organisms, cells, or cellular components.
  • Vectors include plasmids, viruses, bacteriophages, pro-viruses, phagemids, transposons, artificial chromosomes, and the like, that replicate autonomously or can integrate into a chromosome of a host cell.
  • a vector can also be a naked RNA polynucleotide, a naked DNA polynucleotide, a polynucleotide composed of both DNA and RNA within the same strand, a poly-lysine-conjugated DNA or RNA, a peptide-conjugated DNA or RNA, a liposome - conjugated DNA, or the like, that is not autonomously replicating.
  • the vectors of the present invention are plasmids.
  • An "expression vector” is a vector, such as a plasmid that is capable of promoting expression, as well as replication of a nucleic acid incorporated therein.
  • the nucleic acid to be expressed is “operably linked” to a promoter and/or enhancer, and is subject to transcription regulatory control by the promoter and/or enhancer.
  • a "bi-directional expression vector” is characterized by two alternative promoters oriented in the opposite direction relative to a nucleic acid situated between the two promoters, such that expression can be initiated in both orientations resulting in, e.g., transcription of both plus (+) or sense strand, and negative (-) or antisense strand RNAs.
  • a "polypeptide” is a polymer comprising two or more amino acid residues
  • the term "isolated" refers to a biological material, such as a virus, a nucleic acid or a protein, which is substantially free from components that normally accompany or interact with it in its naturally occurring environment.
  • the isolated biological material optionally comprises additional material not found with the biological material in its natural environment, e.g., a cell or wild-type virus.
  • the material can have been placed at a location in the cell (e.g., genome or genetic element) not native to such material found in that environment.
  • a naturally occurring nucleic acid e.g., a coding sequence, a promoter, an enhancer, etc.
  • a locus of the genome e.g., a vector, such as a plasmid or virus vector, or amplicon
  • nucleic acids are also referred to as "heterologous" nucleic acids.
  • An isolated virus for example, is in an environment (e.g., a cell culture system, or purified from cell culture) other than the native environment of wild-type virus (e.g., the nasopharynx of an infected individual).
  • chimeric or “chimera” when referring to a virus, indicates that the virus includes genetic and/or polypeptide components derived from more than one parental viral strain or source.
  • chimeric or “chimera” when referring to a viral protein, indicates that the protein includes polypeptide components (i.e., amino acid subsequences) derived from more than one parental viral strain or source.
  • the term "recombinant” indicates that the material (e.g., a nucleic acid or protein) has been artificially or synthetically (non-naturally) altered by human intervention. The alteration can be performed on the material within, or removed from, its natural environment or state. Specifically, e.g., an influenza virus is recombinant when it is produced by the expression of a recombinant nucleic acid.
  • a "recombinant nucleic acid” is one that is made by recombining nucleic acids, e.g., during cloning, DNA shuffling or other procedures, or by chemical or other mutagenesis
  • a "recombinant polypeptide” or “recombinant protein” is a polypeptide or protein which is produced by expression of a recombinant nucleic acid
  • a "recombinant virus”, e.g., a recombinant influenza virus is produced by the expression of a recombinant nucleic acid.
  • reassortant when referring to a virus, indicates that the virus includes genetic and/or polypeptide components derived from more than one parental viral strain or source.
  • a 7:1 reassortant includes 7 viral genomic segments (or gene segments) derived from a first parental virus, and a single complementary viral genomic segment, e.g., encoding a hemagglutinin or neuraminidase of the invention.
  • a 6:2 reassortant includes 6 genomic segments, most commonly the 6 internal genes from a first parental virus, and two complementary segments, e.g., hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, from a different parental virus.
  • nucleic acid when referring to a heterologous or isolated nucleic acid refers to the incorporation of a nucleic acid into a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell where the nucleic acid can be incorporated into the genome of the cell (e.g., chromosome, plasmid, plastid or mitochondrial DNA), converted into an autonomous replicon, or transiently expressed (e.g., transfected mRNA).
  • the term includes such methods as “infection,” “transfection,” “transformation” and “transduction.”
  • methods can be employed to introduce nucleic acids into cells, including electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, lipid mediated transfection (lipofection), etc.
  • host cell means a cell that contains a heterologous nucleic acid, such as a vector, and supports the replication and/or expression of the nucleic acid.
  • Host cells can be prokaryotic cells such as E. coli, or eukaryotic cells such as yeast, insect, amphibian, avian or mammalian cells, including human cells.
  • Exemplary host cells can include, e.g., Vero (African green monkey kidney) cells, BHK (baby hamster kidney) cells, primary chick kidney (PCK) cells, Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, Madin- Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cells, 293 cells (e.g., 293T cells), and COS cells (e.g., COS ⁇ COSV cells), etc.
  • Vero African green monkey kidney
  • BHK baby hamster kidney
  • PCK primary chick kidney
  • MDCK Madin-Darby Canine Kidney
  • MDBK Madin- Darby Bovine Kidney
  • 293 cells e.g., 293T cells
  • COS cells e.g., COS ⁇ COSV cells
  • An "immunologically effective amount" of influenza virus is an amount sufficient to enhance an individual's (e.g., a human's) own immune response against a subsequent exposure to influenza virus.
  • Levels of induced immunity can be monitored, e.g., by measuring amounts of neutralizing secretory and/or serum antibodies, e.g., by plaque neutralization, complement fixation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, or microneutralization assay.
  • a "protective immune response" against influenza virus refers to an immune response exhibited by an individual (e.g., a human) that is protective against disease when the individual is subsequently exposed to and/or infected with such influenza virus.
  • the influenza virus e.g., naturally circulating
  • the protective immune response results in detectable levels of host engendered serum and secretory antibodies that are capable of neutralizing virus of the same strain and/or subgroup (and possibly also of a different, non- vaccine strain and/or subgroup) in vitro and in vivo.
  • an "antibody” is a protein comprising one or more polypeptides substantially or partially encoded by immunoglobulin genes or fragments of immunoglobulin genes.
  • the recognized immunoglobulin genes include the kappa, lambda, alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon and mu constant region genes, as well as myriad immunoglobulin variable region genes.
  • Light chains are classified as either kappa or lambda.
  • Heavy chains are classified as gamma, mu, alpha, delta, or epsilon, which in turn define the immunoglobulin classes, IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE, respectively.
  • a typical immunoglobulin (antibody) structural unit comprises a tetramer.
  • Each tetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one "light” (about 25 kD) and one "heavy” chain (about 50-70 kD).
  • the N-terminus of each chain defines a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition.
  • the terms variable light chain (VL) and variable heavy chain (VH) refer to these light and heavy chains respectively.
  • Antibodies exist as intact immunoglobulins or as a number of well-characterized fragments produced by digestion with various peptidases.
  • pepsin digests an antibody below the disulfide linkages in the hinge region to produce F(ab)'2, a dimer of Fab which itself is a light chain joined to VH-CHl by a disulfide bond.
  • the F(ab)'2 may be reduced under mild conditions to break the disulfide linkage in the hinge region thereby converting the (Fab')2 dimer into a Fab' monomer.
  • the Fab' monomer is essentially a Fab with part of the hinge region (see, Fundamental Immunology, W.E. Paul, ed., Raven Press, N.Y. (1999), for a more detailed description of other antibody fragments). While various antibody fragments are defined in terms of the digestion of an intact antibody, one of skill will appreciate that such Fab' fragments may be synthesized de novo either chemically or by utilizing recombinant DNA methodology.
  • antibody includes antibodies or fragments either produced by the modification of whole antibodies or synthesized de novo using recombinant DNA methodologies.
  • Antibodies include, e.g., polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, multiple or single chain antibodies, including single chain Fv (sFv or scFv) antibodies in which a variable heavy and a variable light chain are joined together (directly or through a peptide linker) to form a continuous polypeptide, and humanized or chimeric antibodies.
  • sFv or scFv single chain Fv
  • polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1-
  • influenza viruses are made up of an internal ribonucleoprotein core containing a segmented single-stranded RNA genome and an outer lipoprotein envelope lined by a matrix protein.
  • the genome of influenza viruses is composed of eight segments of linear (-) strand ribonucleic acid (RNA), encoding the immunogenic hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins, and six internal core polypeptides: the nucleocapsid nucleoprotein (NP); matrix proteins (M); non- structural proteins (NS); and 3 RNA polymerase (PA, PBl, PB2) proteins.
  • genomic viral RNA is transcribed into (+) strand messenger RNA and (-) strand genomic cRNA in the nucleus of the host cell.
  • Each of the eight genomic segments is packaged into ribonucleoprotein complexes that contain, in addition to the RNA, NP and a polymerase complex (PBl, PB2, and PA).
  • Influenza is commonly grouped into influenza A and influenza B categories.
  • Influenza A and influenza B viruses each contain eight segments of single stranded RNA with negative polarity.
  • the influenza A genome encodes eleven polypeptides. Segments 1- 3 encode three polypeptides, making up a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Segment 1 encodes the polymerase complex protein PB2. The remaining polymerase proteins PBl and PA are encoded by segment 2 and segment 3, respectively.
  • segment 1 of some influenza strains encodes a small protein, PB1-F2, produced from an alternative reading frame within the PBl coding region.
  • Segment 4 encodes the hemagglutinin (HA) surface glycoprotein involved in cell attachment and entry during infection.
  • HA hemagglutinin
  • Segment 5 encodes the nucleocapsid nucleoprotein (NP) polypeptide, the major structural component associated with viral RNA.
  • Segment 6 encodes a neuraminidase (NA) envelope glycoprotein.
  • Segment 7 encodes two matrix proteins, designated Ml and M2, which are translated from differentially spliced mRNAs.
  • Segment 8 encodes NSl and NS2, two nonstructural proteins, which are translated from alternatively spliced mRNA variants.
  • the eight genome segments of influenza B encode 11 proteins. The three largest genes code for components of the RNA polymerase, PBl, PB2 and PA.
  • Segment 4 encodes the HA protein.
  • Segment 5 encodes NP.
  • Segment 6 encodes the NA protein and the NB protein.
  • NSl is translated from the full length RNA
  • NS2 is translated from a spliced mRNA variant.
  • influenza virus vaccines have primarily been produced in embryonated hen eggs using strains of virus selected or based on empirical predictions of relevant strains. More recently, reassortant viruses have been produced that incorporate selected hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase antigens in the context of an approved attenuated, temperature sensitive master strain.
  • influenza viruses are recovered and, optionally, inactivated, e.g., using formaldehyde and/or ⁇ -propiolactone (or alternatively used in live attenuated vaccines).
  • HA and NA sequences e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1-45 are quite useful in constructing influenza vaccines.
  • the current invention includes viruses/vaccines comprising HA and/or NA sequences of pandemic influenza strains (including wherein the HA sequences comprise modified polybasic cleavage sites such as the modifications described herein); and including wherein the viruses/vaccines comprise a ca backbone such as A/AA/6/60 or the backbone of PR8.
  • the cultures are maintained in a system, such as a cell culture incubator, under controlled humidity and CO 2 , at constant temperature using a temperature regulator, such as a thermostat to insure that the temperature does not exceed 35 0 C.
  • a temperature regulator such as a thermostat to insure that the temperature does not exceed 35 0 C.
  • Reassortant influenza viruses can be readily obtained by introducing a subset of vectors corresponding to genomic segments of a master influenza virus, in combination with complementary segments derived from strains of interest (e.g., HA and/or NA antigenic variants herein).
  • the master strains are selected on the basis of desirable properties relevant to vaccine administration.
  • the master donor virus strain may be selected for an attenuated phenotype, cold adaptation and/or temperature sensitivity.
  • various embodiments of the invention utilize A/ Ann Arbor (AA)/6/60 influenza strain as a "backbone" upon which to add HA and/or NA genes (e.g., such as those sequences listed herein, etc.) to create desired reassortant viruses.
  • a 6:2 reassortant 2 genes (i.e., NA and HA) would be from the influenza strain(s) against which an immunogenic reaction is desired, while the other 6 genes would be from the Ann Arbor strain, or other backbone strain, etc.
  • the Ann Arbor virus is useful for its cold adapted, attenuated, temperature sensitive attributes.
  • the HA and NA sequences herein are capable of reassortment with a number of other virus genes or virus types (e.g., a number of different "backbones" such as PR8, etc., containing the other influenza genes present in a reassortant, namely, the non-HA and non-NA genes
  • Various embodiments herein can comprise live attenuated vaccines, having the HA and/or NA sequences herein, for pandemic influenza.
  • Such vaccines typically comprise, e.g., the HA and/or NA sequences of SEQ ID NO: 11-20, 27-32, or 39-44, or their corresponding encoding nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33-38, or 45.
  • vaccine virus strains e.g., reassortants
  • avian strains which can be involved in pandemics
  • avian strains are of interest since evidence indicates they can result in influenza in humans and possible pandemics.
  • use of plasmid-rescue systems to create/manipulate influenza reassortants with pandemic strains such as various avian sequences (e.g., the HA and NA sequences herein) are quite desirable and are features of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, that the current sequences are also capable of use with non-plasmid or traditional systems.
  • Such vaccines are reassortant HlNl and H3N2 viruses in which the internal protein genes of A/ Ann Arbor (AA)/6/60 (H2N2) cold adapted (ca) virus confer the cold adapted, attenuation and temperature sensitive phenotypes of the AA ca virus on the reassortant viruses (i.e., the ones having the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes from the non-Ann Arbor strain).
  • Classical genetic reassortment and plasmid-based reverse genetics techniques have been applied to generate reassortant viruses that contain the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes from avian influenza A viruses (H4-H14 subtypes) and six internal gene segments from the AA ca virus.
  • Such reassortant viruses are features of the invention. See the HA and NA gene sequences below. These viruses bear biological properties that are desirable in candidate vaccines because the phenotypes associated with the AA ca virus are present in the reassortant viruses. The generation and evaluation of these reassortant viruses as seed viruses for vaccines are important steps in pandemic preparedness. It is contemplated that clinical trials can establish the safety, infectivity and immunogenicity of such live attenuated pandemic vaccines.
  • reassortant viruses e.g., those used in vaccines
  • pandemic antigenic genes HA and/or NA from, e.g., avian, porcine, etc.
  • pandemic virus strains in addition to those listed herein, to produce pandemic vaccines which are created through plasmid-rescue reassortment (e.g., reassortment with A/ Ann Arbor 6/60 (i.e., A/AA/6/60), PR8, etc.
  • Methods of construction and use of such viruses and vaccines are also included.
  • Pantemic virus strains as used herein is defined as an influenza strain A virus subtype that it is not circulating in the human population, that is declared to be a pandemic strain by the Centers for Disease Control or the World Health Organization or generally acknowledged as such within the scientific community.
  • the antigenic sequences e.g., the HA sequences
  • viruses and vaccines from such viruses comprise modified polybasic cleavage sites.
  • Some highly pathogenic avian pandemic influenza strains comprise multiple basic amino acid cleavage sites within hemagglutinin sequences. See, e.g., Li et al., J. of Infectious Diseases, 179:1132-8, 1999.
  • Such cleavage sites are, e.g., modified or altered in their sequences in comparison to the wild-type sequences from which the current sequences are derived (e.g., to disable the cleavage or reduce the cleavage there, etc.).
  • polybasic residues at 326-329 of mature H5 are typically removed in sequences herein (as compared to wt). See "SEQUENCES.”
  • the polybasic cleavage sites can be modified in a number of ways (all of which are contained within the invention). For example, the polybasic cleavage site can be removed one amino acid at a time (e.g., one R removed, two Rs removed, RRK removed, or RRKK removed).
  • hemagglutinin polypeptide sequences of influenza virus comprise amino terminal signal peptide sequences, thus, the hemagglutinin polypeptide sequences of the invention include both the mature (amino terminal signal peptide cleaved) form of the hemagglutinin polypeptides and the pre-cleaved form of hemagglutinin.
  • the cleavage sites of any hemagglutinin polypeptide sequence of any influenza strain can be routinely measured or predicted using any number of methods in the art.
  • temperature sensitive indicates, e.g., that the virus exhibits a 100 fold or greater reduction in titer at 39 0 C relative to 33 0 C for influenza A strains, or that the virus exhibits a 100 fold or greater reduction in titer at 37 0 C relative to 33 0 C for influenza B strains.
  • the term “cold adapted” indicates that the virus exhibits growth at 25 0 C within 100 fold of its growth at 33 0 C, while the term “attenuated” (att) indicates that the virus replicates in the upper airways of ferrets but is not detectable in their lung tissues, and does not cause influenza-like illness in the animal.
  • viruses with intermediate phenotypes i.e., viruses exhibiting titer reductions less than 100 fold at 39 0 C (for A strain viruses) or 37 0 C (for B strain viruses), or exhibiting growth at 25 0 C that is more than 100 fold than its growth at 33 0 C (e.g., within 200 fold, 500 fold, 1000 fold, 10,000 fold less), and/or exhibit reduced growth in the lungs relative to growth in the upper airways of ferrets (i.e., partially attenuated) and/or reduced influenza like illness in the animal, are also useful viruses and can be used in conjunction with the HA and NA sequences herein.
  • the HA and NA sequences of the current invention are optionally utilized in the production of or in reassortment vaccines (and/or in other ts, cs, ca, and/or att viruses and vaccines).
  • the HA and NA sequences, etc. of the invention are not limited to specific vaccine compositions or production methods, and can, thus, be utilized in substantially any vaccine type or vaccine production method which utilizes strain specific HA and NA antigens (e.g., any of SEQ ID NO: 11-20, 27-32, or 39- 44 or the corresponding nucleotides encoding the specific HA and NA antigens, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33-38, or 45).
  • FLUMISTTM any of SEQ ID NO: 11-20, 27-32, or 39- 44 or the corresponding nucleotides encoding the specific HA and NA antigens, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33-38, or 45.
  • influenza vaccine is FluMistTM which is a live, attenuated vaccine that protects children and adults from influenza illness (Belshe et al. (1998) The efficacy of live attenuated, cold-adapted, trivalent, intranasal influenza virus vaccine in children N Engl J Med 338:1405-12; Nichol et al. (1999) Effectiveness of live, attenuated intranasal influenza virus vaccine in healthy, working adults: a randomized controlled trial JAMA 282: 137-44).
  • the methods and compositions of the current invention are preferably adapted to/used with production of FluMistTM vaccine.
  • sequences, methods, compositions, etc. herein are also adaptable to production of similar or even different viral vaccines.
  • FluMistTM vaccine strains contain, e.g., HA and NA gene segments derived from the strains (e.g., wild-type strains) to which the vaccine is addressed along with six gene segments, PBl, PB2, PA, NP, M and NS, from a common master donor virus (MDV).
  • MDV master donor virus
  • the MDV for influenza A strains of FluMistTM (MDV-A) was created by serial passage of the wild-type A/ Ann Arbor/6/60 (A/AA/6/60) strain in primary chicken kidney tissue culture at successively lower temperatures (Maassab (1967) Adaptation and growth characteristics of influenza virus at 25 degrees C Nature 213:612-4).
  • MDV-A replicates efficiently at 25 0 C (ca, cold adapted), but its growth is restricted at 38 and 39 0 C (ts, temperature sensitive). Additionally, this virus does not replicate in the lungs of infected ferrets (att, attenuation). The ts phenotype is believed to contribute to the attenuation of the vaccine in humans by restricting its replication in all but the coolest regions of the respiratory tract. The stability of this property has been demonstrated in animal models and clinical studies.
  • Reassortants carrying the six internal genes of MDV- A and the two HA and NA gene segments of a wild-type virus consistently maintain ca, ts and att phenotypes (Maassab et al. (1982) Evaluation of a cold- recombinant influenza virus vaccine in ferrets J. Infect. Pis. 146:780-900).
  • Production of such reassorted virus using B strains of influenza is more difficult, however, recent work (see, e.g., Multi-Plasmid System for the Production of Influenza Virus, U.S. Application No. 60/420,708, filed October 23, 2002, U.S. Application No.
  • the system and methods described previously are useful for the rapid production in cell culture of recombinant and reassortant influenza A and B viruses, including viruses suitable for use as vaccines, including live attenuated vaccines, such as vaccines suitable for intranasal administration.
  • the sequences e.g., nucleotide sequences SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33-38, or 45 and the corresponding amino acids encoded by the nucleotide sequences in SEQ ID NO: 11-20, 27-32, or 39-44
  • methods, etc. of the current invention are optionally used in conjunction with, or in combination with, such previous work involving, e.g., reassorted influenza viruses for vaccine production to produce viruses for vaccines.
  • recombinant and reassortant viruses of the invention e.g., those comprising polynucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21, 23-26, 33-38, or 45 or polypeptides of SEQ ID NO: 11-20, 27-32, or 39-44, or fragments thereof
  • recombinant and reassortant viruses of the invention can be administered prophylactically in an immunologically effective amount and in an appropriate carrier or excipient to stimulate an immune response specific for one or more strains of influenza virus as determined by the HA and/or NA sequence.
  • the carrier or excipient is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient, such as sterile water, aqueous saline solution, aqueous buffered saline solutions, aqueous dextrose solutions, aqueous glycerol solutions, ethanol, or combinations thereof.
  • a carrier or excipient is selected to minimize allergic and other undesirable effects, and to suit the particular route of administration, e.g., subcutaneous, intramuscular, intranasal, etc.
  • a related aspect of the invention provides methods for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus.
  • an immunologically effective amount of a recombinant influenza virus e.g., comprising an HA and/or NA molecule of the invention
  • an immunologically effective amount of a polypeptide of the invention e.g., comprising an HA and/or NA molecule of the invention
  • an immunologically effective amount of a nucleic acid of the invention is administered to the individual in a physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • influenza viruses of the invention are administered in a quantity sufficient to stimulate an immune response specific for one or more strains of influenza virus (i.e., against the HA and/or NA strains of the invention).
  • administration of the influenza viruses elicits a protective immune response to such strains.
  • Dosages and methods for eliciting a protective immune response against one or more influenza strains are known to those of skill in the art. See, e.g., USPN 5,922,326; Wright et al, Infect. Immun. 37:397-400 (1982); Kim et al, Pediatrics 52:56-63 (1973); and Wright et al., J. Pediatr. 88:931-936 (1976).
  • influenza viruses are provided in the range of about 1-1000 HID 50 (human infectious dose), i.e., about 10 5 - 10 8 pfu (plaque forming units) per dose administered.
  • the dose will be adjusted within this range based on, e.g., age, physical condition, body weight, sex, diet, time of administration, and other clinical factors.
  • the prophylactic vaccine formulation is systemically administered, e.g., by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection using a needle and syringe, or a needle-less injection device.
  • the vaccine formulation is administered intranasally, either by drops, large particle aerosol (greater than about 10 microns), or spray into the upper respiratory tract.
  • intranasal administration confers the added benefit of eliciting mucosal immunity at the site of entry of the influenza virus.
  • attenuated live virus vaccines are often preferred, e.g., an attenuated, cold adapted and/or temperature sensitive recombinant or reassortant influenza virus. See above.
  • stimulation of a protective immune response with a single dose is preferred, additional dosages can be administered, by the same or different route, to achieve the desired prophylactic effect.
  • the attenuated recombinant influenza of this invention as used in a vaccine is sufficiently attenuated such that symptoms of infection, or at least symptoms of serious infection, will not occur in most individuals immunized (or otherwise infected) with the attenuated influenza virus.
  • the attenuated influenza virus can still be capable of producing symptoms of mild illness (e.g., mild upper respiratory illness) and/or of dissemination to unvaccinated individuals.
  • its virulence is sufficiently abrogated such that severe lower respiratory tract infections do not occur in the vaccinated or incidental host.
  • an immune response can be stimulated by ex vivo or in vivo targeting of dendritic cells with influenza viruses comprising the sequences herein.
  • proliferating dendritic cells are exposed to viruses in a sufficient amount and for a sufficient period of time to permit capture of the influenza antigens by the dendritic cells.
  • the cells are then transferred into a subject to be vaccinated by standard intravenous transplantation methods.
  • While stimulation of a protective immune response with a single dose is preferred, additional dosages can be administered, by the same or different route, to achieve the desired prophylactic effect.
  • multiple administrations may be required to elicit sufficient levels of immunity.
  • Administration can continue at intervals throughout childhood, as necessary to maintain sufficient levels of protection against wild-type influenza infection.
  • adults who are particularly susceptible to repeated or serious influenza infection such as, for example, health care workers, day care workers, family members of young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised cardiopulmonary function may require multiple immunizations to establish and/or maintain protective immune responses.
  • Levels of induced immunity can be monitored, for example, by measuring amounts of neutralizing secretory and serum antibodies, and dosages adjusted or vaccinations repeated as necessary to elicit and maintain desired levels of protection.
  • the formulation for prophylactic administration of the influenza viruses also contains one or more adjuvants for enhancing the immune response to the influenza antigens.
  • Suitable adjuvants include: complete Freund's adjuvant, incomplete Freund's adjuvant, saponin, mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil or hydrocarbon emulsions, bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), Corynebacterium parvum, and the synthetic adjuvant QS-21.
  • prophylactic vaccine administration of influenza viruses can be performed in conjunction with administration of one or more immunostimulatory molecules.
  • Immunostimulatory molecules include various cytokines, lymphokines and chemokines with immunostimulatory, immunopotentiating, and pro-inflammatory activities, such as interleukins (e.g., IL-I, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-12, IL-13); growth factors (e.g., granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-colony stimulating factor (CSF)); and other immunostimulatory molecules, such as macrophage inflammatory factor, Flt3 ligand, B7.1; B7.2, etc.
  • the immunostimulatory molecules can be administered in the same formulation as the influenza viruses, or can be administered separately.
  • Either the protein e.g., an HA and/or NA polypeptide of the invention, e.g., any of SEQ ID NO: 11-20, 27-32, or 39-4
  • an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid (e.g., any of SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33- 38, or 45) encoding the protein
  • a nucleic acid e.g., any of SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33- 38, or 45
  • a vector of the invention comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a therapeutically or prophylactically effective HA and/or NA polypeptide (or peptide) or HA and/or NA RNA (e.g., an antisense RNA or ribozyme) into a population of target cells in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo.
  • a vector of the invention comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a therapeutically or prophylactically effective HA and/or NA polypeptide (or peptide) or HA and/or NA RNA (e.g., an antisense RNA or ribozyme) into a population of target cells in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo.
  • the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide (or peptide), or RNA, of interest is operably linked to appropriate regulatory sequences as described above in the sections entitled “Expression Vectors” and “Additional Expression Elements.”
  • more than one heterologous coding sequence is incorporated into a single vector or virus.
  • the vector in addition to a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutically or prophylactically active HA and/or NA polypeptide or RNA, the vector can also include additional therapeutic or prophylactic polypeptides, e.g., antigens, co-stimulatory molecules, cytokines, antibodies, etc., and/or markers, and the like.
  • vaccine combinations can optionally include mixes of pandemic vaccines (e.g., those against pandemic influenza strains such as various avian strains, see, e.g., the sequences herein, or other pandemic strains) and non-pandemic strains.
  • Vaccine mixtures can comprise components from human strains and/or non-human influenza strains (e.g., avian and human, etc.).
  • the attenuated influenza virus vaccines of this invention can optionally be combined with vaccines that induce protective immune responses against other infectious agents.
  • the HA and NA polynucleotide segments of influenza viruses comprise both a coding region (encoding the ORF) and noncoding regions (NCRs), both 5' and 3' of the HA and NA coding sequence.
  • NCRs noncoding regions
  • SEQ ID NOS: 1-9 outside of the ORFs.
  • primers can be made to these NCRs to facilitate amplification of the entire HA and NA segments of influenza virus, ⁇ see, e.g., Hoffmann et al. Arch Virol. 2001 Dec;146(12):2275-89).
  • the NCRs of the HA and NA of influenza may increase the efficiency of achieving reassortants. Therefore, the polynucleotide sequences of these
  • NCRs including fragments and variants ⁇ e.g., at least about 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or at least about 91% or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 98.5%, or at least about 98.7%, or at least about 99%, or at least about 99.1%, or at least about 99.2%, or at least about 99.3%, or at least about
  • HA and NA polynucleotides of the invention include both the NCR and ORF of the HA and NA sequences (including fragments and variants (e.g., at least about 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or at least about 91% or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 98.5%, or at least about 98.7%, or at least about 99%, or at least about 99.1%, or at least about 99.2%, or at least about 99.3%, or at least about 99.4%, or at least about 99.5%, or at least about 99.6% or at least about 99.7%, or at least about 99.8%, or at least about 99.9%) thereof) of pandemic virus strains.
  • fragments and variants e.g., at least about 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%,
  • the HA and NA polynucleotides of the invention exclude the NCR, but include the ORF (including fragments and variants (e.g., at least about 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or at least about 91% or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 98.5%, or at least about 98.7%, or at least about 99%, or at least about 99.1%, or at least about 99.2%, or at least about 99.3%, or at least about 99.4%, or at least about 99.5%, or at least about 99.6% or at least about 99.7%, or at least about 99.8%, or at least about 99.9% thereof)) of the HA and NA sequences of pandemic virus strains (e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 1-9).
  • the ORF including fragments and variants (
  • the HA and NA polynucleotides of the invention are optionally used in a number of different capacities alternative to, or in addition to, the vaccines described above.
  • Other exemplary uses are described herein for illustrative purpose and not as limitations on the actual range of uses. Different methods of construction, purification, and characterization of the nucleotide sequences of the invention are also described herein.
  • nucleic acids including one or more polynucleotide sequence of the invention are favorably used as probes for the detection of corresponding or related nucleic acids in a variety of contexts, such as in nucleic hybridization experiments, e.g., to find and/or characterize homologous influenza variants (e.g., homologues to the sequences herein, etc.) infecting other species or in different influenza outbreaks, etc.
  • homologous influenza variants e.g., homologues to the sequences herein, etc.
  • the probes can be either DNA or RNA molecules, such as restriction fragments of genomic or cloned DNA, cDNAs, PCR amplification products, transcripts, and oligonucleotides, and can vary in length from oligonucleotides as short as about 10 nucleotides in length to full length sequences or cDNAs in excess of 1 kb or more.
  • a probe of the invention includes a polynucleotide sequence or subsequence selected, e.g., from among SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO:21 through SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:33 through SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:45, or sequences complementary thereto.
  • polynucleotide sequences that are variants of one of the above-designated sequences are used as probes. Most typically, such variants include one or a few conservative nucleotide variations.
  • pairs (or sets) of oligonucleotides can be selected, in which the two (or more) polynucleotide sequences are conservative variations of each other, wherein one polynucleotide sequence corresponds identically to a first variant or and the other(s) corresponds identically to additional variants.
  • Such pairs of oligonucleotide probes are particularly useful, e.g., for specific hybridization experiments to detect polymorphic nucleotides or to, e.g., detect homologous influenza HA and NA variants, e.g., homologous to the current HA and NA sequences, infecting other species or present in different (e.g., either temporally and/or geographically different) influenza outbreaks.
  • probes are selected that are more divergent, that is probes that are at least about 91% (or about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 98.5%, about 98.7%, about 99%, about 99.1%, about 99.2%, about 99.3%, about 99.4%, about 99.5%, or about 99.6% or more about 99.7%, about 99.8%, about 99.9% or more) identical are selected.
  • probes of the invention can also be used to identify additional useful polynucleotide sequences according to procedures routine in the art.
  • one or more probes, as described above are utilized to screen libraries of expression products or chromosomal segments (e.g., expression libraries or genomic libraries) to identify clones that include sequences identical to, or with significant sequence similarity to, e.g., one or more probe of the sequences herein, i.e., variants, homologues, etc.
  • Oligonucleotide probes are optionally produced via a variety of methods well known to those skilled in the art.
  • Oligonucleotides can also be custom made and ordered from a variety of commercial sources known to persons of skill. Purification of oligonucleotides, where necessary, is typically performed by either native acrylamide gel electrophoresis or by anion-exchange HPLC as described in Pearson and Regnier (1983) J Chrom 255:137-149.
  • the sequence of the synthetic oligonucleotides can be verified using the chemical degradation method of Maxam and Gilbert (1980) in Grossman and Moldave (eds.) Academic Press, New York, Methods in Enzvmology 65:499-560. Custom oligos can also easily be ordered from a variety of commercial sources known to persons of skill.
  • probes that are polypeptides, peptides or antibodies are favorably utilized.
  • isolated or recombinant polypeptides, polypeptide fragments and peptides derived from any of the amino acid sequences of the invention e.g., SEQ ID NO: 11-20, SEQ ID NO: 27-32, SEQ ID NO:39-44) and/or encoded by polynucleotide sequences of the invention, e.g., selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 21 through SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO:33 through SEQ ID NO:38, and SEQ ID NO:45 are favorably used to identify and isolate antibodies, e.g., from phage display libraries, combinatorial libraries, polyclonal sera, and the like.
  • Polypeptide fragments of the inventions include a peptide or polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 5 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least 10 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least 15 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least 20 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least 25 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least 40 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least 50 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least 60 contiguous amino residues, or at least 70 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 80 amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 90 amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 100 amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 125 amino acid residues, or at least 150 contiguous amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 175 amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 200 amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 250 amino acid residues, or at least contiguous 350, or at least contiguous 400, or at least contiguous 450
  • SEQ ID NO: 11 through SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 27 through SEQ ID NO: 32, and/or SEQ ID NO: 39 through SEQ ID NO: 44, and/or encoded by polynucleotide sequences of the invention, e.g., selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 21 through SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 33 through SEQ ID NO: 38, and SEQ ID NO:45 are likewise valuable as probes for evaluating expression products, e.g., from cells or tissues.
  • antibodies are particularly suitable for evaluating expression of proteins comprising amino acid subsequences, e.g., of those given herein, or encoded by polynucleotides sequences of the invention, e.g., selected from those shown herein, in situ, in a tissue array, in a cell, tissue or organism, e.g., an organism infected by an unidentified influenza virus or the like.
  • Antibodies can be directly labeled with a detectable reagent, or detected indirectly by labeling of a secondary antibody specific for the heavy chain constant region (i.e., isotype) of the specific antibody. Additional details regarding production of specific antibodies are provided below.
  • the nucleic acid sequences of the present invention can be used in diagnostic assays to detect influenza (and/or hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase) in a sample, to detect hemagglutinin-like and/or neuraminidase-like sequences, and to detect strain differences in clinical isolates of influenza using either chemically synthesized or recombinant polynucleotide fragments, e.g., selected from the sequences herein.
  • fragments of the hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase sequences comprising at least between 10 and 20 nucleotides can be used as primers to amplify nucleic acids using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods well known in the art (e.g., reverse transcription- PCR) and as probes in nucleic acid hybridization assays to detect target genetic material such as influenza RNA in clinical specimens.
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • the probes of the invention e.g., as exemplified by unique subsequences selected from those given herein, can also be used to identify additional useful polynucleotide sequences (such as to characterize additional strains of influenza) according to procedures routine in the art.
  • one or more probes are utilized to screen libraries of expression products or cloned viral nucleic acids (i.e., expression libraries or genomic libraries) to identify clones that include sequences identical to, or with significant sequence identity to the sequences herein.
  • each of these identified sequences can be used to make probes, including pairs or sets of variant probes as described above.
  • computer assisted bioinformatic approaches e.g., BLAST and other sequence homology search algorithms, and the like, can also be used for identifying related polynucleotide sequences.
  • the probes of the invention are particularly useful for detecting the presence and for determining the identity of influenza nucleic acids in cells, tissues or other biological samples (e.g., a nasal wash or bronchial lavage).
  • the probes of the invention are favorably utilized to determine whether a biological sample, such as a subject (e.g., a human subject) or model system (such as a cultured cell sample) has been exposed to, or become infected with influenza, or particular strain(s) of influenza.
  • Detection of hybridization of the selected probe to nucleic acids originating in (e.g., isolated from) the biological sample or model system is indicative of exposure to or infection with the virus (or a related virus) from which the probe polynucleotide is selected.
  • probe design is influenced by the intended application. For example, where several allele-specific probe-target interactions are to be detected in a single assay, e.g., on a single DNA chip, it is desirable to have similar melting temperatures for all of the probes. Accordingly, the lengths of the probes are adjusted so that the melting temperatures for all of the probes on the array are closely similar (it will be appreciated that different lengths for different probes may be needed to achieve a particular T m where different probes have different GC contents). Although melting temperature is a primary consideration in probe design, other factors are optionally used to further adjust probe construction, such as selecting against primer self-complementarity and the like.
  • the present invention includes recombinant constructs incorporating one or more of the nucleic acid sequences described herein.
  • constructs optionally include a vector, for example, a plasmid, a cosmid, a phage, a virus, a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), etc., into which one or more of the polynucleotide sequences of the invention, e.g., comprising any of SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO:21 through SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:33 through SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:45 or a subsequence thereof etc., has been inserted, in a forward or reverse orientation.
  • the inserted nucleic acid can include a viral chromosomal sequence or cDNA including all or part of at least one of the polynucleotide sequences of the invention.
  • the construct further comprises regulatory sequences, including, for example, a promoter, operably linked to the sequence.
  • regulatory sequences including, for example, a promoter, operably linked to the sequence.
  • polypeptide (or peptide) expression products e.g., a hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase molecule of the invention, or fragments thereof.
  • Such vectors include chromosomal, nonchromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences, e.g., derivatives of SV40; bacterial plasmids; phage DNA; baculovirus; yeast plasmids; vectors derived from combinations of plasmids and phage DNA, viral DNA such as vaccinia, adenovirus, fowl pox virus, pseudorabies, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, retroviruses and many others (e.g., pCDL).
  • Any vector that is capable of introducing genetic material into a cell, and, if replication is desired, which is replicable in the relevant host can be used.
  • the HA and/or NA polynucleotide sequence of interest is physically arranged in proximity and orientation to an appropriate transcription control sequence (e.g., promoter, and optionally, one or more enhancers) to direct mRNA synthesis. That is, the polynucleotide sequence of interest is operably linked to an appropriate transcription control sequence.
  • appropriate transcription control sequence e.g., promoter, and optionally, one or more enhancers
  • promoters include: LTR or SV40 promoter, E. coli lac or trp promoter, phage lambda P L promoter, and other promoters known to control expression of genes in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or their viruses.
  • a variety of promoters are suitable for use in expression vectors for regulating transcription of influenza virus genome segments.
  • the cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA dependent RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) promoter is utilized.
  • CMV cytomegalovirus
  • Pol II DNA dependent RNA Polymerase II
  • other promoters can be substituted which induce RNA transcription under the specified conditions, or in the specified tissues or cells.
  • Numerous viral and mammalian, e.g., human promoters are available, or can be isolated according to the specific application contemplated.
  • alternative promoters obtained from the genomes of animal and human viruses include such promoters as the adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), papilloma virus, hepatitis-B virus, polyoma virus, and Simian Virus 40 (SV40), and various retroviral promoters.
  • adenovirus such as Adenovirus 2
  • papilloma virus hepatitis-B virus
  • polyoma virus such as Simian Virus 40 (SV40)
  • SV40 Simian Virus 40
  • Mammalian promoters include, among many others, the actin promoter, immunoglobulin promoters, heat-shock promoters, and the like.
  • Transcription is optionally increased by including an enhancer sequence.
  • Enhancers are typically short, e.g., 10-500 bp, cis-acting DNA elements that act in concert with a promoter to increase transcription.
  • Many enhancer sequences have been isolated from mammalian genes (hemoglobin, elastase, albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, and insulin), and eukaryotic cell viruses.
  • the enhancer can be spliced into the vector at a position 5' or 3' to the heterologous coding sequence, but is typically inserted at a site 5' to the promoter.
  • the promoter, and if desired, additional transcription enhancing sequences are chosen to optimize expression in the host cell type into which the heterologous DNA is to be introduced (Scharf et al.
  • the amplicon can also contain a ribosome binding site or an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) for translation initiation.
  • IRS internal ribosome entry site
  • the vectors of the invention also favorably include sequences necessary for the termination of transcription and for stabilizing the mRNA, such as a polyadenylation site or a terminator sequence.
  • sequences are commonly available from the 5' and, occasionally 3', untranslated regions of eukaryotic or viral DNAs or cDNAs.
  • the SV40 polyadenylation signal sequences can provide a bi-directional polyadenylation site that insulates transcription of (+) strand mRNA molecules from the Poll promoter initiating replication of the (-) strand viral genome.
  • the expression vectors optionally include one or more selectable marker genes to provide a phenotypic trait for selection of transformed host cells, in addition to genes previously listed, markers such as dihydrofolate reductase or neomycin resistance are suitable for selection in eukaryotic cell culture.
  • the vector containing the appropriate nucleic acid sequence as described above, as well as an appropriate promoter or control sequence, can be employed to transform a host cell permitting expression of the protein. While the vectors of the invention can be replicated in bacterial cells, most frequently it will be desirable to introduce them into mammalian cells, e.g., Vera cells, BHK cells, MDCK cell, 293 cells, COS cells, or the like, for the purpose of expression.
  • mammalian cells e.g., Vera cells, BHK cells, MDCK cell, 293 cells, COS cells, or the like, for the purpose of expression.
  • the HA and NA sequences herein in various embodiments, can be comprised within plasmids involved in plasmid-rescue reassortment. See, e.g., U.S. Application Nos. 60/420,708, filed October 23, 2002; 60/574,117, filed May 24, 2004; 10/423,828, filed April 25, 2003; 60/578,962, filed June 12, 2004; and 10/870,690 filed June 16, 2004; and US20020164770, which are incorporated by reference herein.
  • preferred expression vectors of the invention include, but are not limited to, vectors comprising pol I promoter and terminator sequences or vectors using both the pol I and pol II promoters "the poll/polll promoter system" (e.g., Zobel et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 1993, 21 :3607; US20020164770; Neumann et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1999, 96:9345; Fodor et al., J. Virol. 1999, 73:9679; and US20030035814).
  • the poll/polll promoter system e.g., Zobel et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 1993, 21 :3607; US20020164770; Neumann et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1999, 96:9345; Fodor et al., J. Virol. 1999, 73:9679; and US20030035814.
  • the reassortants produced can include the HA and NA genes arranged with the 6 other influenza genes from the A/ Ann Arbor/6/60 donor strain (and/or derivatives and modifications thereof), the PR8 donor strain backbone, the A/Leningrad/ 17 donor strain backbone, etc.
  • Other backbone strains are described, for example, in 20040137013 and 20030147916, which are incorporated by reference herein.
  • the genome segment encoding the influenza virus HA and/or NA protein includes any additional sequences necessary for its expression, including translation into a functional viral protein.
  • a minigene, or other artificial construct encoding the viral proteins e.g., an HA and/or NA protein
  • the initiation codon is inserted in the correct reading frame relative to the viral protein.
  • Exogenous transcriptional elements and initiation codons can be of various origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression can be enhanced by the inclusion of enhancers appropriate to the cell system in use.
  • polynucleotide sequences encoding additional expressed elements can be incorporated into the vector, usually, in-frame with the polynucleotide sequence of interest, e.g., to target polypeptide expression to a desired cellular compartment, membrane, or organelle, or to direct polypeptide secretion to the periplasmic space or into the cell culture media.
  • sequences are known to those of skill, and include secretion leader peptides, organelle targeting sequences (e.g., nuclear localization sequences, ER retention signals, mitochondrial transit sequences), membrane localization/anchor sequences (e.g., stop transfer sequences, GPI anchor sequences), and the like.
  • organelle targeting sequences e.g., nuclear localization sequences, ER retention signals, mitochondrial transit sequences
  • membrane localization/anchor sequences e.g., stop transfer sequences, GPI anchor sequences
  • additional translation specific initiation signals can improve the efficiency of translation.
  • These signals can include, e.g., an ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences, an IRES region, etc.
  • full-length cDNA molecules or chromosomal segments including a coding sequence incorporating, e.g., a polynucleotide sequence of the invention (e.g., as in the sequences herein), a translation initiation codon and associated sequence elements are inserted into the appropriate expression vector simultaneously with the polynucleotide sequence of interest. In such cases, additional translational control signals frequently are not required.
  • exogenous translational control signals including, e.g., an ATG initiation codon is often provided for expression of the relevant sequence.
  • the initiation codon is put in the correct reading frame to ensure transcription of the polynucleotide sequence of interest.
  • Exogenous transcriptional elements and initiation codons can be of various origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression can be enhanced by the inclusion of enhancers appropriate to the cell system in use (see, e.g., Scharf D. et al. (1994) Results Probl Cell Differ 20:125-62; Bittner et al. (1987) Methods in Enzymol 153:516-544).
  • Negative strand RNA viruses can be genetically engineered and recovered using a recombinant reverse genetics approach (see, e.g., USPN 5,166,057 to Palese et al.). Such method was originally applied to engineer influenza viral genomes (Luytjes et al. (1989) Cell 59:1107-1113; Enami et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:11563- 11567), and has been successfully applied to a wide variety of segmented and nonsegmented negative strand RNA viruses, e.g., rabies (Schnell et al. (1994) EMBO J.
  • VSV (Lawson et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92: 4477-4481); measles virus (Radecke et al.(1995) EMBO J. 14:5773-5784); rinderpest virus (Baron & Barrett (1997) J. Virol. 71 : 1265-1271); human parainfluenza virus (Hoffman & Banerjee (1997) J. Virol. 71 : 3272-3277; Dubin et al. (1997) Virology 235:323-332); SV5 (He et al.
  • influenza virus comprising the HA and NA sequences of the invention.
  • Recombinant influenza viruses produced according to such methods are also a feature of the invention, as are recombinant influenza virus comprising one or more nucleic acids and/or polypeptides of the invention.
  • the present invention also relates to host cells that are introduced
  • Host cells are genetically engineered (i.e., transduced, transformed or transfected) with a vector, such as an expression vector, of this invention.
  • a vector such as an expression vector, of this invention.
  • the vector can be in the form of a plasmid, a viral particle, a phage, etc.
  • appropriate expression hosts include: bacterial cells, such as E.
  • coli coli, Streptomyces, and Salmonella typhimurium
  • fungal cells such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichiapastoris, and Neurospora crassa
  • insect cells such as Drosophila and Spodoptera frugiperda.
  • mammalian cells are used to culture the HA and NA molecules of the invention.
  • Suitable host cells for the replication of influenza virus include, e.g., Vera cells, BHK cells, MDCK cells, 293 cells and COS cells, including 293T cells, COS7 cells or the like.
  • co-cultures including two of the above cell lines, e.g., MDCK cells and either 293T or COS cells are employed at a ratio, e.g., of 1 : 1 , to improve replication efficiency.
  • cells are cultured in a standard commercial culture medium, such as Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with serum (e.g., 10% fetal bovine serum), or in serum free medium, under controlled humidity and CO 2 concentration suitable for maintaining neutral buffered pH (e.g., at pH between 7.0 and 7.2).
  • a standard commercial culture medium such as Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with serum (e.g., 10% fetal bovine serum), or in serum free medium, under controlled humidity and CO 2 concentration suitable for maintaining neutral buffered pH (e.g., at pH between 7.0 and 7.2).
  • the medium contains antibiotics to prevent bacterial growth, e.g., penicillin, streptomycin, etc., and/or additional nutrients, such as L-glutamine, sodium pyruvate, non- essential amino acids, additional supplements to promote favorable growth characteristics, e.g., trypsin, ⁇ -mercaptoethanol, and the like.
  • the engineered host cells can be cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the inserted polynucleotide sequences.
  • the culture conditions such as temperature, pH and the like, are typically those previously used with the particular host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in the references cited herein, including, e.g., Freshney (1994) Culture of Animal Cells, a Manual of Basic Technique, 3 rd edition, Wiley- Liss, New York and the references cited therein.
  • Other helpful references include, e.g., Paul (1975) Cell and Tissue Culture. 5 th ed., Livingston, Edinburgh; Adams (1980) Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-Cell Culture for
  • tissue culture procedures of particular interest in the production of influenza virus in vitro include, e.g., Merten et al. (1996) Production of influenza virus in cell cultures for vaccine preparation, in Cohen and Shafferman (eds.) Novel Strategies in Design and Production of Vaccines, which is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes. Additionally, variations in such procedures adapted to the present invention are readily determined through routine experimentation and will be familiar to those skilled in the art.
  • Cells for production of influenza virus can be cultured in serum-containing or serum free medium. In some cases, e.g., for the preparation of purified viruses, it is typically desirable to grow the host cells in serum free conditions.
  • Cells can be cultured in small scale, e.g., less than 25 ml medium, culture tubes or flasks or in large flasks with agitation, in rotator bottles, or on microcarrier beads (e.g., DEAE-Dextran microcarrier beads, such as Dormacell, Pfeifer & Langen; Superbead, Flow Laboratories; styrene copolymer-tri-methylamine beads, such as Hillex, SoIoHiIl, Ann Arbor) in flasks, bottles or reactor cultures.
  • microcarrier beads are small spheres (in the range of 100-200 microns in diameter) that provide a large surface area for adherent cell growth per volume of cell culture.
  • a single liter of medium can include more than 20 million microcarrier beads providing greater than 8000 square centimeters of growth surface.
  • Bioreactors are available in volumes from under 1 liter to in excess of 100 liters, e.g., Cyto3 Bioreactor (Osmonics, Minnetonka, MN); NBS bioreactors (New Brunswick Scientific, Edison, NJ); laboratory and commercial scale bioreactors from B. Braun Biotech International (B. Braun Biotech, Melsoder, Germany).
  • a regulator e.g., a thermostat, or other device for sensing and maintaining the temperature of the cell culture system and/or other solution, is employed to insure that the temperature is at the correct level during the appropriate period (e.g., virus replication, etc.).
  • vectors comprising influenza genome segments are introduced (e.g., transfected) into host cells according to methods well known in the art for introducing heterologous nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells, including, e.g., calcium phosphate co-precipitation, electroporation, microinjection, lipofection, and transfection employing polyamine transfection reagents.
  • vectors e.g., plasmids
  • host cells such as COS cells, 293T cells or combinations of COS or 293T cells and MDCK cells
  • polyamine transfection reagent TransIT-LTl Minis
  • each vector is introduced into a population of host cells with approximately 2 ⁇ l of TransIT-LTl diluted in 160 ⁇ l medium, preferably serum- free medium, in a total volume of 200 ⁇ l.
  • the DNA:transfection reagent mixtures are incubated at room temperature for 45 minutes followed by addition of 800 ⁇ l of medium.
  • the transfection mixture is added to the host cells, and the cells are cultured as described via other methods well known to those skilled in the art.
  • vectors incorporating each of the 8 genome segments, are mixed with approximately 20 ⁇ l TransIT-LTl and trans fected into host cells.
  • serum-containing medium is replaced prior to transfection with serum-free medium, e.g., Opti-MEM I, and incubated for 4-6 hours.
  • electroporation can be employed to introduce such vectors incorporating influenza genome segments into host cells.
  • plasmid vectors incorporating an influenza A or influenza B virus are favorably introduced into Vera cells using electroporation according to the following procedure.
  • Vera cells e.g., grown in Modified Eagle's Medium (MEM) supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) are resuspended in 0.4 ml OptiMEM and placed in an electroporation cuvette. Twenty micrograms of DNA in a volume of up to 25 ⁇ l is added to the cells in the cuvette, which is then mixed gently by tapping.
  • MEM Modified Eagle's Medium
  • FBS Fetal Bovine Serum
  • Electroporation is performed according to the manufacturer's instructions (e.g., BioRad Gene Pulser II with Capacitance Extender Plus connected) at 300 volts, 950 microFarads with a time constant of between 28-33 msec.
  • the cells are remixed by gently tapping and approximately 1-2 minutes following electroporation 0.7 ml MEM with 10% FBS is added directly to the cuvette.
  • the cells are then transferred to two wells of a standard 6 well tissue culture dish containing 2 ml MEM, 10% FBS.
  • the cuvette is washed to recover any remaining cells and the wash suspension is divided between the two wells. Final volume is approximately 3.5 mL.
  • the cells are then incubated under conditions permissive for viral growth, e.g., at approximately 33 0 C for cold adapted strains.
  • a number of expression systems such as viral- based systems, can be utilized.
  • a coding sequence is optionally ligated into an adenovirus transcription/translation complex consisting of the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. Insertion in a nonessential El or E3 region of the viral genome will result in a viable virus capable of expressing the polypeptides of interest in infected host cells (Logan and Shenk (1984) Proc Natl Acad Sci 81 :3655-3659).
  • transcription enhancers such as the rous sarcoma virus (RSV) enhancer
  • RSV rous sarcoma virus
  • a host cell strain is optionally chosen for its ability to modulate the expression of the inserted sequences or to process the expressed protein in the desired fashion.
  • modifications of the protein include, but are not limited to, acetylation, carboxylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, lipidation and acylation.
  • Post-translational processing which cleaves a precursor form into a mature form, of the protein is sometimes important for correct insertion, folding and/or function. Additionally proper location within a host cell (e.g., on the cell surface) is also important.
  • Different host cells such as COS, CHO, BHK, MDCK, 293, 293T, C0S7, etc. have specific cellular machinery and characteristic mechanisms for such post-translational activities and can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the current introduced, foreign protein.
  • stable expression systems are optionally used.
  • cell lines, stably expressing a polypeptide of the invention are trans fected using expression vectors that contain viral origins of replication or endogenous expression elements and a selectable marker gene.
  • a selectable marker gene For example, following the introduction of the vector, cells are allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media before they are switched to selective media.
  • the purpose of the selectable marker is to confer resistance to selection, and its presence allows growth and recovery of cells that successfully express the introduced sequences.
  • resistant clumps of stably transformed cells e.g., derived from single cell type, can be proliferated using tissue culture techniques appropriate to the cell type.
  • Host cells transformed with a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention are optionally cultured under conditions suitable for the expression and recovery of the encoded protein from cell culture.
  • the cells expressing said protein can be sorted, isolated and/or purified.
  • the protein or fragment thereof produced by a recombinant cell can be secreted, membrane-bound, or retained intracellularly, depending on the sequence (e.g., depending upon fusion proteins encoding a membrane retention signal or the like) and/or the vector used.
  • Expression products corresponding to the nucleic acids of the invention can also be produced in non-animal cells such as plants, yeast, fungi, bacteria and the like.
  • non-animal cells such as plants, yeast, fungi, bacteria and the like.
  • details regarding cell culture can be found in Payne et al. (1992) Plant Cell and Tissue Culture in Liquid Systems John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY; Gamborg and Phillips (eds.) (1995) Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture; Fundamental Methods Springer Lab Manual, Springer-Verlag (Berlin Heidelberg New York) and Atlas and Parks (eds.) The Handbook of Microbiological Media (1993) CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
  • a number of expression vectors can be selected depending upon the use intended for the expressed product. For example, when large quantities of a polypeptide or fragments thereof are needed for the production of antibodies, vectors that direct high-level expression of fusion proteins that are readily purified are favorably employed. Such vectors include, but are not limited to, multifunctional E.
  • coli cloning and expression vectors such as BLUESCRIPT (Stratagene), in which the coding sequence of interest, e.g., sequences comprising those found herein, etc., can be ligated into the vector in- frame with sequences for the amino -terminal translation initiating methionine and the subsequent 7 residues of beta-galactosidase producing a catalytically active beta galactosidase fusion protein; pIN vectors (Van Heeke & Schuster (1989) J Biol Chem 264:5503-5509); pET vectors (Novagen, Madison WI); and the like.
  • BLUESCRIPT Stratagene
  • yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae a number of vectors containing constitutive or inducible promoters such as alpha factor, alcohol oxidase and PGH can be used for production of the desired expression products.
  • constitutive or inducible promoters such as alpha factor, alcohol oxidase and PGH.
  • Comparative hybridization can be used to identify nucleic acids (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1-10, SEQ ID NO: 21-26, SEQ ID NO:33-38, SEQ ID NO:45) of the invention, including conservative variations of nucleic acids of the invention.
  • This comparative hybridization method is a preferred method of distinguishing nucleic acids of the invention.
  • target nucleic acids which hybridize to the nucleic acids represented by, e.g., those shown herein under high, ultra-high and ultra-ultra-high stringency conditions are features of the invention. Examples of such nucleic acids include those with one or a few silent or conservative nucleic acid substitutions as compared to a given nucleic acid sequence.
  • a test target nucleic acid is said to specifically hybridize to a probe nucleic acid when it hybridizes at least one-half as well to the probe as to the perfectly matched complementary target, i.e., with a signal to noise ratio at least one-half as high as hybridization of the probe and target under conditions in which a perfectly matched probe binds to a perfectly matched complementary target with a signal to noise ratio that is at least about 5x-10x as high as that observed for hybridization to any of the unmatched target nucleic acids.
  • Nucleic acids "hybridize” when they associate, typically in solution. Nucleic acids hybridize due to a variety of well-characterized physico-chemical forces, such as hydrogen bonding, solvent exclusion, base stacking and the like. Numerous protocols for nucleic acid hybridization are well known in the art. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen (1993) Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology— Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes part I chapter 2, “Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid probe assays," (Elsevier, New York), as well as in Ausubel, Sambrook, and Berger and Kimmel, all below.
  • An example of stringent hybridization conditions for hybridization of complementary nucleic acids which have more than 100 complementary residues on a filter in a Southern or northern blot is 50% formalin with 1 mg of heparin at 42 0 C, with the hybridization being carried out overnight.
  • An example of stringent wash conditions comprises a 0.2x SSC wash at 65 0 C for 15 minutes ⁇ see, Sambrook, infra for a description of SSC buffer and other nucleic acid hybridization parameters). Often the high stringency wash is preceded by a low stringency wash to remove background probe signal.
  • An example low stringency wash is 2x SSC at 4O 0 C for 15 minutes. In general, a signal to noise ratio of 5x (or higher) than that observed for an unrelated probe in the particular hybridization assay indicates detection of a specific hybridization.
  • unhybridized nucleic acids can be removed by a series of washes, the stringency of which can be adjusted depending upon the desired results.
  • Low stringency washing conditions e.g., using higher salt and lower temperature
  • Higher stringency conditions e.g., using lower salt and higher temperature that is closer to the T m
  • lower the background signal typically with primarily the specific signal remaining. See, also, Rapley, R. and Walker, J.M. eds., Molecular Biomethods Handbook (Humana Press, Inc. 1998).
  • Stringent hybridization wash conditions in the context of nucleic acid hybridization experiments such as Southern and northern hybridizations are sequence dependent, and are different under different environmental parameters. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen (1993), supra, and in Hames and Higgins, 1 and 2. Stringent hybridization and wash conditions can easily be determined empirically for any test nucleic acid. For example, in determining highly stringent hybridization and wash conditions, the hybridization and wash conditions are gradually increased (e.g., by increasing temperature, decreasing salt concentration, increasing detergent concentration and/or increasing the concentration of organic solvents such as formalin in the hybridization or wash), until a selected set of criteria is met. For example, the hybridization and wash conditions are gradually increased until a probe binds to a perfectly matched complementary target with a signal to noise ratio that is at least 5x as high as that observed for hybridization of the probe to an unmatched target.
  • the hybridization and wash conditions are gradually increased until a probe binds to a perfectly matched complementary target with a signal to
  • a signal to noise ratio of at least 2x (or higher, e.g., at least 5x,
  • “Very stringent” conditions are selected to be equal to the thermal melting point (T m ) for a particular probe.
  • T m is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the test sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe.
  • “highly stringent” hybridization and wash conditions are selected to be about 5 0 C lower than the T m for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH (as noted below, highly stringent conditions can also be referred to in comparative terms).
  • Target sequences that are closely related or identical to the nucleotide sequence of interest e.g., "probe” can be identified under stringent or highly stringent conditions.
  • “Ultra high-stringency” hybridization and wash conditions are those in which the stringency of hybridization and wash conditions are increased until the signal to noise ratio for binding of a probe to a perfectly matched complementary target nucleic acid is at least 1Ox as high as that observed for hybridization to any unmatched target nucleic acids.
  • a target nucleic acid which hybridizes to a probe under such conditions, with a signal to noise ratio of at least one-half that of the perfectly matched complementary target nucleic acid is said to bind to the probe under ultra-high stringency conditions.
  • the hybridization and wash conditions are gradually increased (e.g., by increasing temperature, decreasing salt concentration, increasing detergent concentration and/or increasing the concentration of organic solvents, such as formamide, in the hybridization or wash), until a selected set of criteria are met.
  • the hybridization and wash conditions are gradually increased until a probe comprising one or more polynucleotide sequences of the invention, e.g., sequences or unique subsequences selected from those given herein (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33- 38, SEQ ID NO:45) and/or complementary polynucleotide sequences, binds to a perfectly matched complementary target (again, a nucleic acid comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences or subsequences selected from those given herein and/or complementary polynucleotide sequences thereof), with a signal to noise ratio that is at least 2x (and optionally 5x, 10x, or 10Ox or more) as high as that observed for hybridization of the probe to an unmatched target (e.g., a polynucleotide sequence comprising one or more sequences or subsequences selected from known influenza sequences present in public databases such as GenBank at the time of filing,
  • target nucleic acids can be obtained; such target nucleic acids are also a feature of the invention.
  • target nucleic acids include sequences that hybridize under stringent conditions to a unique oligonucleotide probe corresponding to any of the polynucleotides of the invention, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33-38, 45).
  • SEQ ID NO: 1-10, 21-26, 33-38, 45 any of the polynucleotides of the invention.
  • even higher levels of stringency can be determined by gradually increasing the hybridization and/or wash conditions of the relevant hybridization assay.
  • the particular signal will depend on the label used in the relevant assay, e.g., a fluorescent label, a colorimetric label, a radioactive label, or the like.
  • a target nucleic acid which hybridizes to a probe under such conditions, with a signal to noise ratio of at least one-half that of the perfectly matched complementary target nucleic acid is said to bind to the probe under ultra-ultra-high stringency conditions and are also features of the invention.
  • Nucleic acids that do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially identical if the polypeptides which they encode are substantially identical. This occurs, e.g., when a copy of a nucleic acid is created using the maximum codon degeneracy permitted by the genetic code.
  • mutagenesis are optionally used in the present invention, e.g., to produce and/or isolate, e.g., novel or newly isolated HA and/or NA molecules and/or to further modify/mutate the polypeptides (e.g., HA and NA molecules as in SEQ ID NO: 11-20 or 27-32 or 39-44) of the invention.
  • They include but are not limited to site-directed, random point mutagenesis, homologous recombination (DNA shuffling), mutagenesis using uracil containing templates, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, phosphorothioate- modified DNA mutagenesis, mutagenesis using gapped duplex DNA or the like.
  • Suitable methods include point mismatch repair, mutagenesis using repair-deficient host strains, restriction-selection and restriction-purification, deletion mutagenesis, mutagenesis by total gene synthesis, double-strand break repair, and the like.
  • Mutagenesis e.g., involving chimeric constructs, is also included in the present invention.
  • mutagenesis can be guided by known information of the naturally occurring molecule or altered or mutated naturally occurring molecule, e.g., sequence, sequence comparisons, physical properties, crystal structure or the like.
  • Oligonucleotides e.g., for use in mutagenesis of the present invention, e.g., mutating libraries of the HA and/or NA molecules of the invention, or altering such, are typically synthesized chemically according to the solid phase phosphoramidite triester method described by Beaucage and Caruthers, Tetrahedron Letts 22(20):1859-1862, (1981) e.g., using an automated synthesizer, as described in Needham-VanDevanter et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:6159-6168 (1984).
  • nucleic acid can be custom or standard ordered from any of a variety of commercial sources, such as The Midland Certified Reagent Company (mcrc@oligos.com), The Great American Gene Company (www.genco.com), ExpressGen Inc. (www.expressgen.com), Operon Technologies Inc. (Alameda, CA) and many others.
  • peptides and antibodies can be custom ordered from any of a variety of sources, such as PeptidoGenic (available at pkim@ccnet.com), HTI Bio-products, Inc. (www.htibio.com), BMA Biomedicals Ltd. (U.K.), Bio. Synthesis, Inc., and many others.
  • the present invention also relates to host cells and organisms comprising a
  • Host cells are genetically engineered (e.g., transformed, transduced or transfected) with the vectors of this invention, which can be, for example, a cloning vector or an expression vector.
  • the vector can be, for example, in the form of a plasmid, a bacterium, a virus, a naked polynucleotide, or a conjugated polynucleotide.
  • the vectors are introduced into cells and/or microorganisms by standard methods including electroporation (see, From et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82, 5824 (1985), infection by viral vectors, high velocity ballistic penetration by small particles with the nucleic acid either within the matrix of small beads or particles, or on the surface (Klein et al., Nature 327, 70-73 (1987)).
  • Several well-known methods of introducing target nucleic acids into bacterial cells are available, any of which can be used in the present invention. These include: fusion of the recipient cells with bacterial protoplasts containing the DNA, electroporation, projectile bombardment, and infection with viral vectors, etc.
  • Bacterial cells can be used to amplify the number of plasmids containing DNA constructs of this invention. The bacteria are grown to log phase and the plasmids within the bacteria can be isolated by a variety of methods known in the art (see, for instance, Sambrook).
  • kits are commercially available for the purification of plasmids from bacteria, (see, e.g., EasyPrepTM, FlexiPrepTM, both from Pharmacia Biotech; StrataCleanTM, from Stratagene; and, QIAprepTM from Qiagen).
  • the isolated and purified plasmids are then further manipulated to produce other plasmids, used to transfect cells or incorporated into related vectors to infect organisms.
  • Typical vectors contain transcription and translation terminators, transcription and translation initiation sequences, and promoters useful for regulation of the expression of the particular target nucleic acid.
  • the vectors optionally comprise generic expression cassettes containing at least one independent terminator sequence, sequences permitting replication of the cassette in eukaryotes, or prokaryotes, or both, (e.g., shuttle vectors) and selection markers for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.
  • Vectors are suitable for replication and integration in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, or optionally both. See, Giliman & Smith, Gene 8:81 (1979); Roberts, et al, Nature. 328:731 (1987); Schneider, B., et al., Protein Expr Purif 6435 : 10 (1995); Ausubel, Sambrook, Berger (all supra).
  • a catalogue of Bacteria and Bacteriophages useful for cloning is provided, e.g., by the ATCC, e.g., The ATCC Catalogue of Bacteria and Bacteriophage (1992) Gherna et al. (eds.) published by the ATCC. Additional basic procedures for sequencing, cloning and other aspects of molecular biology and underlying theoretical considerations are also found in Watson et al. (1992) Recombinant DNA Second Edition Scientific American Books, NY. See, above. Further vectors useful with the sequences herein are illustrated above in the section concerning production of influenza virus for vaccines and the references cited therein.
  • POLYPEPTIDE PRODUCTION AND RECOVERY Following transduction of a suitable host cell line or strain and growth of the host cells to an appropriate cell density, the selected promoter is induced by appropriate means (e.g., temperature shift or chemical induction) and cells are cultured for an additional period.
  • a secreted polypeptide product e.g., a HA and/or NA polypeptide as in a secreted fusion protein form, etc.
  • a virus particle containing a HA and/or a NA polypeptide of the invention is produced from the cell.
  • cells can be harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extract retained for further purification.
  • Eukaryotic or microbial cells employed in expression of proteins can be disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents, or other methods, which are well know to those skilled in the art.
  • cells expressing a HA and/or a NA polypeptide product of the invention can be utilized without separating the polypeptide from the cell.
  • the polypeptide of the invention is optionally expressed on the cell surface and is examined thus (e.g., by having HA and/or NA molecules (or fragments thereof, e.g., comprising fusion proteins or the like) on the cell surface bind antibodies, etc.
  • Such cells are also features of the invention.
  • Expressed polypeptides can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by any of a number of methods well known in the art, including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography (e.g., using any of the tagging systems known to those skilled in the art), hydroxylapatite chromatography, and lectin chromatography. Protein refolding steps can be used, as desired, in completing configuration of the mature protein. Also, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed in the final purification steps.
  • HPLC high performance liquid chromatography
  • the viruses are typically recovered from the culture medium, in which infected (transfected) cells have been grown.
  • crude medium is clarified prior to concentration of influenza viruses.
  • Common methods include ultrafiltration, adsorption on barium sulfate and elution, and centrifugation.
  • crude medium from infected cultures can first be clarified by centrifugation at, e.g., 1000-2000 x g for a time sufficient to remove cell debris and other large particulate matter, e.g., between 10 and 30 minutes.
  • the clarified medium supernatant is then centrifuged to pellet the influenza viruses, e.g., at
  • the virus is concentrated by density gradient centrifugation on sucrose (60%- 12%) or potassium tartrate (50%- 10%). Either continuous or step gradients, e.g., a sucrose gradient between 12% and 60% in four 12% steps, are suitable. The gradients are centrifuged at a speed, and for a time, sufficient for the viruses to concentrate into a visible band for recovery.
  • an appropriate buffer such as STE (0.01 M Tris-HCl; 0.15 M NaCl; 0.0001 M EDTA
  • PBS phosphate buffered saline
  • Either continuous or step gradients e.g., a sucrose gradient between 12% and 60% in four 12% steps, are suitable. The gradients are centrifuged at a speed, and for a time, sufficient for the viruses to concentrate into a visible band for recovery.
  • virus is elutriated from density gradients using a zonal-centrifuge rotor operating in continuous mode. Additional details sufficient to guide one of skill through the preparation of influenza viruses from tissue culture are provided, e.g., in Furminger. Vaccine Production, in Nicholson et al. (eds.) Textbook of Influenza pp. 324- 332; Merten et al. (1996) Production of influenza virus in cell cultures for vaccine preparation, in Cohen & Shafferman (eds.) Novel Strategies in Design and Production of Vaccines pp. 141-151, and United States Patent No. 5,690,937. If desired, the recovered viruses can be stored at -8O 0 C in the presence of sucrose-phosphate-glutamate (SPG) as a stabilizer
  • SPG sucrose-phosphate-glutamate
  • cell-free transcription/translation systems can be employed to produce polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence or subsequence of, e.g., the sequences given herein such as SEQ ID NOS: 11-20 or 27-32 or 39-44, or encoded by the polynucleotide sequences of the invention, e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 1-10 or 21-26 or 33-38 or 45.
  • SEQ ID NOS: 1-10 or 21-26 or 33-38 or 45 e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 1-10 or 21-26 or 33-38 or 45.
  • a number of suitable in vitro transcription and translation systems are commercially available. A general guide to in vitro transcription and translation protocols is found in Tymms (1995) In vitro Transcription and Translation Protocols: Methods in Molecular Biology Volume 37, Garland Publishing, NY.
  • polypeptides, or subsequences thereof can be produced manually or by using an automated system, by direct peptide synthesis using solid-phase techniques ⁇ see, Stewart et al. (1969) Solid- Phase Peptide Synthesis, WH Freeman Co, San Francisco; Merrifield J (1963) J Am Chem Soc 85:2149-2154).
  • automated systems include the Applied Biosystems 431A Peptide Synthesizer (Perkin Elmer, Foster City, CA).
  • subsequences can be chemically synthesized separately, and combined using chemical methods to provide full- length polypeptides.
  • Expressed polypeptides of the invention can contain one or more modified amino acids.
  • the presence of modified amino acids can be advantageous in, for example, (a) increasing polypeptide serum half-life, (b) reducing/increasing polypeptide antigenicity, (c) increasing polypeptide storage stability, etc.
  • Amino acid(s) are modified, for example, co-translationally or post-translationally during recombinant production (e.g., N-linked glycosylation at N-X-S/T motifs during expression in mammalian cells) or modified by synthetic means (e.g., via PEGylation).
  • Non-limiting examples of a modified amino acid include a glycosylated amino acid, a sulfated amino acid, a prenlyated (e.g., farnesylated, geranylgeranylated) amino acid, an acetylated amino acid, an acylated amino acid, a PEG-ylated amino acid, a biotinylated amino acid, a carboxylated amino acid, a phosphorylated amino acid, and the like, as well as amino acids modified by conjugation to, e.g., lipid moieties or other organic derivatizing agents.
  • References adequate to guide one of skill in the modification of amino acids are replete throughout the literature. Example protocols are found in Walker (1998) Protein Protocols on CD-ROM Human Press, Towata, NJ.
  • the present invention also provides fusion proteins comprising fusions of the sequences of the invention (e.g., encoding HA and/or NA polypeptides as exampled by SEQ ID NOS: 11-20, 27-32, and 39-44) or fragments thereof with, e.g., immunoglobulins (or portions thereof), sequences encoding, e.g., GFP (green fluorescent protein), or other similar markers, etc. Nucleotide sequences encoding such fusion proteins are another aspect of the invention. Fusion proteins of the invention are optionally used for, e.g., similar applications (including, e.g., therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, experimental, etc. applications as described herein) as the non-fusion proteins of the invention.
  • similar applications including, e.g., therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, experimental, etc. applications as described herein
  • the proteins of the invention are also optionally fused with, e.g., sequences which allow sorting of the fusion proteins and/or targeting of the fusion proteins to specific cell types, regions, etc.
  • the polypeptides of the invention can be used to produce antibodies specific for the polypeptides given herein and/or polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides of the invention, e.g., those shown herein, and conservative variants thereof.
  • Antibodies specific for the above mentioned polypeptides are useful, e.g., for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, e.g., related to the activity, distribution, and expression of target polypeptides.
  • Antibodies specific for the polypeptides of the invention can be generated by methods well known in the art. Such antibodies can include, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, humanized, single chain, Fab fragments and fragments produced by an Fab expression library.
  • Polypeptides do not require biological activity for antibody production (e.g., full length functional hemagglutinin or neuraminidase is not required). However, the polypeptide or oligopeptide must be antigenic. Peptides used to induce specific antibodies typically have an amino acid sequence of at least about 4 amino acids, and often at least 5 or 10 amino acids. Short stretches of a polypeptide can be fused with another protein, such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and antibody produced against the chimeric molecule.
  • Specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and antisera will usually bind with a K D of, e.g., at least about 0.1 ⁇ M, at least about 0.01 ⁇ M or better, and, typically and at least about 0.001 ⁇ M or better.
  • humanized antibodies are desirable.
  • polypeptides of the invention provide a variety of new polypeptide sequences (e.g., comprising HA and NA molecules), the polypeptides also provide new structural features which can be recognized, e.g., in immunological assays.
  • the generation of antisera which specifically bind the polypeptides of the invention, as well as the polypeptides which are bound by such antisera, are features of the invention.
  • the invention includes polypeptides (e.g., HA and NA molecules) that specifically bind to or that are specifically immunoreactive with an antibody or antisera generated against an immunogen comprising an amino acid sequence selected from one or more of the sequences given herein (e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 11-20, 27-32, and 39- 44), etc.
  • the antibody or antisera is subtracted with the HA and/or NA molecules found in public databases at the time of filing, e.g., the "control" polypeptide(s).
  • the other control sequences correspond to a nucleic acid
  • a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid is generated and used for antibody/antisera subtraction purposes.
  • the immunoassay uses a polyclonal antiserum which was raised against one or more polypeptide comprising one or more of the sequences corresponding to the sequences herein (e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 11-20, 27-32, and 39-44), etc. or a substantial subsequence thereof (i.e., at least about 30% of the full length sequence provided).
  • the set of potential polypeptide immunogens derived from the present sequences are collectively referred to below as "the immunogenic polypeptides.”
  • the resulting antisera is optionally selected to have low cross-reactivity against the control hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase homologues and any such cross-reactivity is removed, e.g., by immunoabsorbtion, with one or more of the control hemagglutinin and neuraminidase homologues, prior to use of the polyclonal antiserum in the immunoassay.
  • one or more of the immunogenic polypeptides is produced and purified as described herein.
  • recombinant protein can be produced in a recombinant cell.
  • An inbred strain of mice (used in this assay because results are more reproducible due to the virtual genetic identity of the mice) is immunized with the immunogenic protein(s) in combination with a standard adjuvant, such as Freund's adjuvant, and a standard mouse immunization protocol (see, e.g., Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Publications, New York, for a standard description of antibody generation, immunoassay formats and conditions that can be used to determine specific immunoreactivity).
  • polypeptides by immunoreactivity.
  • one or more synthetic or recombinant polypeptide derived from the sequences disclosed herein is conjugated to a carrier protein and used as an immunogen.
  • Polyclonal sera are collected and titered against the immunogenic polypeptide in an immunoassay, for example, a solid phase immunoassay with one or more of the immunogenic proteins immobilized on a solid support.
  • Polyclonal antisera with a titer of 10 6 or greater are selected, pooled and subtracted with the control hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase polypeptide(s) to produce subtracted pooled titered polyclonal antisera.
  • the subtracted pooled titered polyclonal antisera are tested for cross reactivity against the control homologue(s) in a comparative immunoassay.
  • discriminatory binding conditions are determined for the subtracted titered polyclonal antisera which result in at least about a 5-10 fold higher signal to noise ratio for binding of the titered polyclonal antisera to the immunogenic polypeptides as compared to binding to the control homologues. That is, the stringency of the binding reaction is adjusted by the addition of non-specific competitors such as albumin or non-fat dry milk, and/or by adjusting salt conditions, temperature, and/or the like.
  • test polypeptide a polypeptide being compared to the immunogenic polypeptides and/or the control polypeptides
  • test polypeptides which show at least a 2-5x higher signal to noise ratio than the control receptor homologues under discriminatory binding conditions, and at least about a 1 A signal to noise ratio as compared to the immunogenic polypeptide(s)
  • immunoassays in the competitive binding format are used for detection of a test polypeptide.
  • cross-reacting antibodies are removed from the pooled antisera mixture by immunoabsorbtion with the control polypeptides.
  • the immunogenic polypeptide(s) are then immobilized to a solid support which is exposed to the subtracted pooled antisera.
  • Test proteins are added to the assay to compete for binding to the pooled subtracted antisera.
  • the ability of the test protein(s) to compete for binding to the pooled subtracted antisera as compared to the immobilized protein(s) is compared to the ability of the immunogenic polypeptide(s) added to the assay to compete for binding (the immunogenic polypeptides compete effectively with the immobilized immunogenic polypeptides for binding to the pooled antisera).
  • the percent cross-reactivity for the test proteins is calculated, using standard calculations.
  • the ability of the control protein(s) to compete for binding to the pooled subtracted antisera is optionally determined as compared to the ability of the immunogenic polypeptide(s) to compete for binding to the antisera.
  • the percent cross-reactivity for the control polypeptide(s) is calculated, using standard calculations. Where the percent cross-reactivity is at least 5- 1Ox as high for the test polypeptides as compared to the control polypeptide(s) and or where the binding of the test polypeptides is approximately in the range of the binding of the immunogenic polypeptides, the test polypeptides are said to specifically bind the pooled subtracted antisera.
  • the immunoabsorbed and pooled antisera can be used in a competitive binding immunoassay as described herein to compare any test polypeptide to the immunogenic and/or control polypeptide(s).
  • the immunogenic, test and control polypeptides are each assayed at a wide range of concentrations and the amount of each polypeptide required to inhibit 50% of the binding of the subtracted antisera to, e.g., an immobilized control, test or immunogenic protein is determined using standard techniques.
  • test polypeptide required for binding in the competitive assay is less than twice the amount of the immunogenic polypeptide that is required, then the test polypeptide is said to specifically bind to an antibody generated to the immunogenic protein, provided the amount is at least about 5- 10x as high as for the control polypeptide.
  • the pooled antisera is optionally fully immunosorbed with the immunogenic polypeptide(s) (rather than the control polypeptide(s)) until little or no binding of the resulting immunogenic polypeptide subtracted pooled antisera to the immunogenic polypeptide(s) used in the immunosorbtion is detectable.
  • This fully immunosorbed antisera is then tested for reactivity with the test polypeptide. If little or no reactivity is observed (i.e., no more than 2x the signal to noise ratio observed for binding of the fully immunosorbed antisera to the immunogenic polypeptide), then the test polypeptide is specifically bound by the antisera elicited by the immunogenic protein.
  • the invention provides for nucleic acid polynucleotide sequences and polypeptide amino acid sequences, e.g., hemagglutinin and neuraminidase sequences, and, e.g., compositions and methods comprising said sequences.
  • Examples of said sequences are disclosed herein (e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 1-45).
  • SEQ ID NOS: 1-45 e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 1-45.
  • the invention is not necessarily limited to those sequences disclosed herein and that the present invention also provides many related and unrelated sequences with the functions described herein, e.g., encoding a HA and/or a NA molecule.
  • variants of the disclosed sequences are included in the invention. For example, conservative variations of the disclosed sequences that yield a functionally identical sequence are included in the invention. Variants of the nucleic acid polynucleotide sequences, wherein the variants hybridize to at least one disclosed sequence, are considered to be included in the invention. Unique subsequences of the sequences disclosed herein, as determined by, e.g., standard sequence comparison techniques, are also included in the invention.
  • any of a variety of nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides and/or viruses of the invention are optionally produced, some which can bear lower levels of sequence identity to the HA and NA nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences herein.
  • the following provides a typical codon table specifying the genetic code, found in many biology and biochemistry texts. Table 1
  • the codon table shows that many amino acids are encoded by more than one codon.
  • the codons AGA, AGG, CGA, CGC, CGG, and CGU all encode the amino acid arginine.
  • the codon can be altered to any of the corresponding codons described above without altering the encoded polypeptide. It is understood that U in an RNA sequence corresponds to T in a DNA sequence.
  • Such "silent variations” are one species of “conservatively modified variations,” discussed below.
  • each codon in a nucleic acid except ATG, which is ordinarily the only codon for methionine, and TTG, which is ordinarily the only codon for tryptophan
  • TTG which is ordinarily the only codon for tryptophan
  • each silent variation of a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide is implicit in any described sequence. The invention, therefore, explicitly provides each and every possible variation of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention that could be made by selecting combinations based on possible codon choices.
  • substitutions i.e., substitutions in a nucleic acid sequence which do not result in an alteration in an encoded polypeptide
  • conservative amino acid substitutions in one or a few amino acids in an amino acid sequence are substituted with different amino acids with highly similar properties, are also readily identified as being highly similar to a disclosed construct such as those herein. Such conservative variations of each disclosed sequence are a feature of the present invention.
  • Constant variations of a particular nucleic acid sequence refers to those nucleic acids which encode identical or essentially identical amino acid sequences, or, where the nucleic acid does not encode an amino acid sequence, to essentially identical sequences, see, Table 2 below.
  • substitutions, deletions or additions which alter, add or delete a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids (typically less than 5%, more typically less than 4%, 3%, 2% or 1%) in an encoded sequence are "conservatively modified variations" where the alterations result in the deletion of an amino acid, addition of an amino acid, or substitution of an amino acid with a chemically similar amino acid.
  • “conservative variations” of a listed polypeptide sequence of the present invention include substitutions of a small percentage, typically less than 5%, more typically less than 4%, 3%, 2% or 1%, of the amino acids of the polypeptide sequence, with a conservatively selected amino acid of the same conservative substitution group.
  • substitutions of a small percentage, typically less than 5%, more typically less than 4%, 3%, 2% or 1%, of the amino acids of the polypeptide sequence with a conservatively selected amino acid of the same conservative substitution group.
  • sequences which do not alter the encoded activity of a nucleic acid molecule is a conservative variation of the basic nucleic acid.
  • the invention provides a nucleic acid which comprises a unique subsequence in a nucleic acid selected from the sequence of HA and NA molecules disclosed herein, e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 1-10, 21-26, 33-38, and 45.
  • the unique subsequence is unique as compared to a nucleic acids corresponding to nucleic acids such as, e.g., those found in GenBank or other similar public databases at the time of filing. Alignment can be performed using, e.g., BLAST set to default parameters. Any unique subsequence is useful, e.g., as a probe to identify the nucleic acids of the invention. See, above.
  • the invention includes a polypeptide which comprises a unique subsequence in a polypeptide selected from the sequence of HA and NA molecules disclosed herein, e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 11-20, 27-32, and 39-44.
  • the unique subsequence is unique as compared to a polypeptide corresponding to, e.g., the amino acid corresponding to polynucleotide sequences found in, e.g., GenBank or other similar public databases at the time of filing.
  • the invention also provides for target nucleic acids which hybridize under stringent conditions to a unique coding oligonucleotide which encodes a unique subsequence in a polypeptide selected from the sequences of HA and NA molecules of the invention wherein the unique subsequence is unique as compared to a polypeptide corresponding to any of the control polypeptides (sequences of, e.g., the nucleic acids corresponding to those found in, e.g., GenBank or other similar public databases at the time of filing). Unique sequences are determined as noted above. Sequence comparison, identity, and homology
  • nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using one of the sequence comparison algorithms described below (or other algorithms available to persons of skill) or by visual inspection.
  • nucleic acids or polypeptides refers to two or more sequences or subsequences that have at least about 90%, preferably 91%, most preferably 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 98.5%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, 99.9% or more nucleotide or amino acid residue identity, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence, as measured using a sequence comparison algorithm or by visual inspection.
  • Such "substantially identical" sequences are typically considered to be
  • substantially identical exists over a region of the amino acid sequences that is at least about 200 residues in length, at least about 250 residues, at least about 300 residues, 350 residues, 400 residues, 425 residues, 450 residues, 475 residues, 480 residues, 490 residues, 495 residues, 499 residues, 500 residues, 502 residues, 559 residues, 565 residues, or 566 residues, or over the full length of the two sequences to be compared.
  • sequence comparison and homology determination typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence to which test sequences are compared.
  • test and reference sequences are input into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated.
  • sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identity for the test sequence(s) relative to the reference sequence, based on the designated program parameters.
  • Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv Appl Math 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J MoI Biol 48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of algorithms such as GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, WI, or by visual inspection (see generally, Ausubel et al, supra).
  • HSPs high scoring sequence pairs
  • initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them.
  • the word hits are then extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always > 0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always ⁇ 0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached.
  • the BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment.
  • the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 3, an expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see, Henikoff & Henikoff (1989) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89:10915).
  • the BLAST algorithm In addition to calculating percent sequence identity, the BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin & Altschul. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:5873-5787 (1993)).
  • One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance.
  • P(N) the smallest sum probability
  • a nucleic acid is considered similar to a reference sequence if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid to the reference nucleic acid is less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.
  • PILEUP creates a multiple sequence alignment from a group of related sequences using progressive, pairwise alignments. It can also plot a tree showing the clustering relationships used to create the alignment. PILEUP uses a simplification of the progressive alignment method of Feng & Doolittle (1987) J. MoL Evol. 35:351-360. The method used is similar to the method described by Higgins & Sharp (1989) CABIOS5 ⁇ 51-153. The program can align, e.g., up to 300 sequences of a maximum length of 5,000 letters. The multiple alignment procedure begins with the pairwise alignment of the two most similar sequences, producing a cluster of two aligned sequences.
  • This cluster can then be aligned to the next most related sequence or cluster of aligned sequences.
  • Two clusters of sequences can be aligned by a simple extension of the pairwise alignment of two individual sequences. The final alignment is achieved by a series of progressive, pairwise alignments.
  • the program can also be used to plot a dendogram or tree representation of clustering relationships. The program is run by designating specific sequences and their amino acid or nucleotide coordinates for regions of sequence comparison.
  • the present invention provides digital systems, e.g., computers, computer readable media and integrated systems comprising character strings corresponding to the sequence information herein for the nucleic acids and isolated or recombinant polypeptides herein, including, e.g., the sequences shown herein, and the various silent substitutions and conservative substitutions thereof.
  • Integrated systems can further include, e.g., gene synthesis equipment for making genes corresponding to the character strings.
  • homology determination methods have been designed for comparative analysis of sequences of biopolymers, for spell-checking in word processing, and for data retrieval from various databases.
  • models that simulate annealing of complementary homologous polynucleotide strings can also be used as a foundation of sequence alignment or other operations typically performed on the character strings corresponding to the sequences herein (e.g., word-processing manipulations, construction of figures comprising sequence or subsequence character strings, output tables, etc.).
  • Microsoft WordTM or Corel WordPerfectTM can be adapted to the present invention by inputting a character string corresponding to one or more polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention (either nucleic acids or proteins, or both).
  • a system of the invention can include the foregoing software having the appropriate character string information, e.g., used in conjunction with a user interface (e.g., a GUI in a standard operating system such as a Windows, Macintosh or LINUX system) to manipulate strings of characters corresponding to the sequences herein.
  • a user interface e.g., a GUI in a standard operating system such as a Windows, Macintosh or LINUX system
  • specialized alignment programs such as BLAST can also be incorporated into the systems of the invention for alignment of nucleic acids or proteins (or corresponding character strings).
  • Systems in the present invention typically include a digital computer with data sets entered into the software system comprising any of the sequences herein.
  • the computer can be, e.g., a PC (Intel x86 or Pentium chip- compatible DOSTM, OS2TM
  • Software for aligning or otherwise manipulating sequences is available, or can easily be constructed by one of skill using a standard programming language such as Visualbasic, PERL, Fortran, Basic, Java, or the like.
  • Any controller or computer optionally includes a monitor which is often a cathode ray tube ("CRT") display, a flat panel display (e.g., active matrix liquid crystal display, liquid crystal display), or others.
  • Computer circuitry is often placed in a box which includes numerous integrated circuit chips, such as a microprocessor, memory, interface circuits, and others.
  • the box also optionally includes a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a high capacity removable drive such as a writeable CD-ROM, and other common peripheral elements.
  • Inputting devices such as a keyboard or mouse optionally provide for input from a user and for user selection of sequences to be compared or otherwise manipulated in the relevant computer system.
  • the computer typically includes appropriate software for receiving user instructions, either in the form of user input into a set parameter fields, e.g., in a GUI, or in the form of preprogrammed instructions, e.g., preprogrammed for a variety of different specific operations.
  • the software then converts these instructions to appropriate language for instructing the operation, e.g., of appropriate mechanisms or transport controllers to carry out the desired operation.
  • the software can also include output elements for controlling nucleic acid synthesis (e.g., based upon a sequence or an alignment of sequences herein), comparisons of samples for differential gene expression, or other operations.
  • kits of the invention contains one or more nucleic acid, polypeptide, antibody, or cell line described herein (e.g., comprising, or with, a HA and/or NA molecule of the invention).
  • the kit can contain a diagnostic nucleic acid or polypeptide, e.g., antibody, probe set, e.g., as a cDNA micro-array packaged in a suitable container, or other nucleic acid such as one or more expression vector.
  • the kit can also further comprise, one or more additional reagents, e.g., substrates, labels, primers, for labeling expression products, tubes and/or other accessories, reagents for collecting samples, buffers, hybridization chambers, cover slips, etc.
  • additional reagents e.g., substrates, labels, primers, for labeling expression products, tubes and/or other accessories, reagents for collecting samples, buffers, hybridization chambers, cover slips, etc.
  • the kit optionally further comprises an instruction set or user manual detailing preferred methods of using the kit components for discovery or application of diagnostic sets, etc.
  • the kit can be used, e.g., for evaluating a disease state or condition, for evaluating effects of a pharmaceutical agent or other treatment intervention on progression of a disease state or condition in a cell or organism, or for use as a vaccine, etc.
  • the present invention provides system kits embodying the methods, composition, systems and apparatus herein.
  • System kits of the invention optionally comprise one or more of the following: (1) an apparatus, system, system component or apparatus component; (2) instructions for practicing methods described herein, and/or for operating the apparatus or apparatus components herein and/or for using the compositions herein.
  • the present invention provides for the use of any apparatus, apparatus component, composition or kit herein, for the practice of any method or assay herein, and/or for the use of any apparatus or kit to practice any assay or method herein.
  • kits can include one or more translation system as noted above (e.g., a cell) with appropriate packaging material, containers for holding the components of the kit, instructional materials for practicing the methods herein and/or the like.
  • products of the translation systems e.g., proteins such as HA and/or NA molecules
  • kit form e.g., with containers for holding the components of the kit, instructional materials for practicing the methods herein and/or the like.
  • any of the vaccine components and/or compositions e.g., reassorted virus in allantoic fluid, etc.
  • additional components such as, buffer, cells, culture medium, useful for packaging and infection of influenza viruses for experimental or therapeutic vaccine purposes
  • the kit contains, in addition to the above components, additional materials which can include, e.g., instructions for performing the methods of the invention, packaging material, and a container.
  • Example 1 Construction and Analysis of H5N1 ca Viruses and Vaccines
  • Various sequences herein comprising H5N1 HA/NA sequences were used to create influenza viruses and vaccines.
  • the HA sequences in such vaccines were altered from wild-type by removal of the polybasic cleavage site within the HA.
  • the HA/NA sequences were reassorted (in a 6:2 reassortment) with ca A/AA/6/60 (a ts, att, ca virus, see above).
  • Three strains of H5N1 influenza were used in this example:
  • FIG. 1 illustrates modification of the polybasic cleavage site of an exemplary HA sequence, the '04 HA sequences, used to construct the viruses/vaccines.
  • various embodiments of the invention comprise sequences which have differing regions of the polybasic cleavage site removed. See above.
  • modified H5N1 sequences i.e., the modified '97, '03, and '04 genes
  • 6:2 reassortant viruses with ca A/AA/6/60.
  • other desirable backbones could also have been used (e.g., PR8, etc.).
  • the HA and NA gene sequences were derived from one or more wild type parent virus, i.e., the HA and NA gene sequences of the '03 virus were derived from A/HK/213/2003, the HA and NA gene sequences of the '04 virus were derived from A/VN/1203/2004, and the HA gene sequence of the '97 virus was derived from A/HK/491/1997 while the NA gene sequence was derived from A/HK/486/1997.
  • the remaining genes of the 6:2 reassortants were characterized by sequence analysis as derived from the A/AA/6/60 ca parent virus.
  • the reassorted viruses replicated to 8.0-8.5 logioTCID 50 in eggs.
  • the logioTCID 50 comprises from about 7.0 to about 9.0, from about 7.5-8.5, or from about 8.0-8.5 are also within the scope of the invention.
  • the cleavability of the modified HA in the constructed viruses by endogenous proteases was restricted in vitro and the viruses were dependent on trypsin (e.g., from about 0.1 ug/ml to about 1.0 ug/ml) for growth.
  • the constructed viruses were temperature sensitive as assayed by an in vitro assay.
  • the H5N1 ca reassortant viruses (having the modified '97, '03, or '04 HA genes) were not lethal for chickens.
  • H5N1 ca reassortant viruses were not lethal for chickens.
  • 4-week-old SPF white Oak Rock chickens were inoculated intravenously with a 1 : 10 dilution of stock virus ( 10 8"8'75 TCID 50 /ml) and observed for 10 days, it was observed that 8 out of 8 chickens died within 1-2 days when wild-type '97, '03, and '04 H5N1 were used, while 0 of 8 chickens died when the H5N1 ca reassortant viruses were used.
  • the intranasally administered H5N1 ca reassortant viruses did not replicate in chickens.
  • H5N1/AA ca reassortants were also not lethal for mice. See Figure 3, which also shows the TCID50 for the H5N1 wild-type strains.
  • Figure 4 shows that the 1997 and 2004 H5N1 ca reassortant viruses were restricted in replication in mice.
  • Figure 5 shows that the H5N1 ca reassorted viruses are restricted in replication in lungs of mice.
  • FIG. 6 A comparison of the serum HAI antibody titers elicited in mice following a single intranasal dose of vaccine (2003 ca as compared against 2003 wild-type), is shown in Figure 6.
  • Figures 7 and 15 show similar measurements, but using serum neutralizing antibody titers.
  • Figure 8 displays that the H5N1 ca reassortant viruses protect mice from lethal challenge with 50, 500, or 5,000 LD 50 of wild-type H5N1 virus.
  • Figure 9 shows the efficacy of protection from pulmonary replication of homologous and heterologous H5N1 challenge viruses in mice. As can be seen, the ca reassortants replicated less well than the wild-type viruses did.
  • Figure 10 shows related data using upper respiratory tracts of mice.
  • Figure 11 shows efficacy of protection conferred by 2004 H5N1 ca vaccine against high dose (1O 5 TCID 50 ) challenge with homologous or heterologous H5N1 wild-type viruses in mice.
  • Figure 12 shows efficacy of protection conferred by 1997 and 2003 H5N1 ca vaccines against high dose (lO 5 TCIDso) challenge with homologous or heterologous H5N1 wild-type viruses in mice.
  • Figure 13 shows efficacy of protection conferred by 2004 H5N1 ca vaccine against low or high doses of homologous H5N1 wild-type virus challenge in mice.
  • Figures 11- 13 demonstrate that the tested vaccines could protect against other related viruses.
  • H5N1 ca reassortant viruses/vaccines of the invention The modified ca reassortant '97, '03, and '04 viruses were shown to have in vitro ts phenotype, loss of pathogenicity in chickens and attenuation in mice. It is expected that attenuation is also present in ferrets. Efficacy of protection and cross-protection against lethal challenge and systemic spread with wild-type viruses in mice was also shown. Efficacy of protection and cross-protections against replication of wild-type challenge viruses in the respiratory tract of mice is also expected.
  • viruses/vaccines it is contemplated to use these (and similar) viruses/vaccines to determine whether immunogenicity and efficacy is improved following 2 doses of vaccine; to assess immunogenicity in non-human primates; to assess attenuation and vaccine efficacy in ferrets; to determine the contribution of humoral and cellular immunity to observed efficacy of the produced vaccines in mice; to determine which residues of the 2003 HA contribute to enhanced immunogenicity and introduce them into 1997 and 2004 HAs; and to determine the effects of deleting the multibasic amino acid cleavage site and of the gene constellation.
  • a set of three recombinant influenza viruses and vaccines comprising H6 HA sequences were prepared: (a) A/Duck, which comprised the H6 HA and N9 NA of A/Duck77; (b) A/Teal, which comprised the H6 HA and Nl NA of A/Teal97; and (c) A/Mallard, which comprised the H6 HA and N2 NA of A/Mallard85.
  • the six internal genome segments of each recombinant virus were those of ca A/AA/6/60.
  • Figure 18 shows the efficacy of protection conferred by the A/Duck, A/Teal, and A/Mallard vaccines.
  • Ferrets were vaccinated with a single dose of 7 logio PFU recombinant A/Duck, A/Teal, or A/Mallard vaccine.
  • the ferrets were then challenged with 7 logio PFU wt A/Duck, A/Teal, or A/Mallard virus.
  • Three days post challenge lungs and nasal turbinates of the ferrets were harvested and virus titer in the tissues was determined.
  • Figure 18 shows efficacy of protection conferred by the recombinant (ca) H6 vaccines against homologous and heterologous wild-type H6 viruses in ferrets.
  • Example 3 Construction and Analysis of an H7N3, BC 04 ca. Virus and Vaccine [0222] A further recombinant influenza virus and vaccine was prepared using the
  • HA H7 and NA N3 sequences of A/ck/BC/CN-6/04 BC 04 ca. These HA and NA sequences were combined with the six internal genome segments of ca A/AA/6/60.
  • the BC 04 ca vaccine was attenuated in the ferrets.
  • Ferrets were intranasally inoculated with 10 7 TCID50 vaccine in 0.5 mL.
  • Virus titer in each of these tissues was diminished in ferrets inoculated with the vaccine virus relative to ferrets inoculated with wt viruses A/BC/CN-6/04 or A/BC/CN-7/04. See Figure 19.
  • the BC 04 ca vaccine was immunogenic in mice. In mice receiving the BC
  • Figures 21 and 22 show the efficacy of protection conferred by the BC 04 ca vaccine against both homologous and heterologous H7 wt viruses.
  • mice were intranasally inoculated with 1 dose vaccine four weeks before challenge, 1 dose vaccine 8 weeks before challenge, or 2 doses vaccine (administered 4 weeks apart) before lethal challenge with 50 LD 50 homologous (A/ck/BC/CN-7/04) and heterologous (A/NL/219/03 or A/tk/Eng/63) H7 wt viruses.
  • Weight change of the mice following lethal challenged was monitored each day for fourteen days, to monitor morbidity associated with the wt influenza virus challenge.
  • Figure 22 provides further evidence of the efficacy of the H7N3 BC 04 ca vaccine.
  • H7N3 nasal turbinates
  • b lungs
  • H7N3 NL/219/03
  • H7N7 tk/Eng/63
  • H7N3 tk/UT/95
  • H7N2 tk/VA/02
  • Example 4 Construction and Analysis of an H9N2 G9/AA ca. Virus and Vaccine
  • a further recombinant influenza virus and vaccine was prepared using the HA H9 and NA N2 sequences of A/ck/Hong Kong/G9/97 (G9/AA ca). These HA and NA sequences were combined with the six internal genome segments of ca A/AA/6/60.
  • H9N2 G9/AA ca vaccine was attenuated in the ferrets. See Figure 23, which shows reduced virus titers in nasal turbinates (a) and lungs (b) of ferrets following administration of the H9N2 G9/AA ca virus relative to the H9N2 G9 wt virus.
  • Figure 24 provides evidence of the efficacy of the H9N2 G9 ca vaccine in mice. In the mice receiving the H9N2 G9 ca vaccine, protection was observed against challenge using H9N2 G9 wt and A/HK/1073/99 viruses.
  • the H9N2 G9/AA ca vaccine was also well tolerated in healthy adults in a clinical trial setting. Healthy adults were administered the H9N2 G9/AA ca vaccine by nose drop. In the healthy adults, the H9N2 G9/AA ca vaccine was highly restricted in replication. See Figure 25. Furthermore, administration of 10 7 0 TCID 50 of H9N2 G9/AA ca vaccine induced > 4-fold increases in HI titer in 92% of healthy volunteers. See Figure 26.
  • polypeptide wherein said polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 21-26 or 33-38 or 45; b) a polypeptide as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 27-32 or 39-44; c) the mature form of the polypeptide as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 27-32 or 39-
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of at least one polypeptide of embodiment 1.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the polypeptide of embodiment 1 in a physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • a recombinant influenza virus comprising the polypeptide of embodiment 1.
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the recombinant influenza virus of embodiment 5.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the recombinant influenza virus of embodiment 5 in a physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • nucleic acid wherein said nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polynucleotide sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 21-26 or 33-38 or 45, or a complementary sequence thereof; b) a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 27-32 or 39-44, or a complementary polynucleotide sequence thereof; c) a polynucleotide sequence which hybridizes under highly stringent conditions over substantially the entire length of polynucleotide sequence (a); and d) a polynucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the polynucleotide sequence of (a).
  • An immunogenic composition comprising at least one of the nucleic acids of embodiment 8.
  • a cell comprising at least one nucleic acid of embodiment 8.
  • a vector comprising the nucleic acid of embodiment 8.
  • a cell comprising the vector of embodiment 13.
  • An influenza virus comprising one or more nucleic acids of embodiment 8.
  • a 6:2 reassortment influenza virus wherein said virus comprises 6 gene encoding regions from A/ Ann Arbor/6/60 and 2 gene encoding regions that encode polypeptides selected from the group consisting of: the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 27-32, and 39- 44.
  • a method of producing a recombinant influenza virus comprising: culturing the cell of embodiment 14 in a suitable culture medium under conditions permitting expression of nucleic acid; and, isolating the recombinant influenza virus from a cell population comprising said cell or the medium.
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the recombinant influenza virus of embodiment 17.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the recombinant influenza virus of embodiment 17 in a physiologically effective carrier.
  • a method of producing an isolated or recombinant polypeptide comprising: culturing the host cell of embodiment 10 in a suitable culture medium under conditions permitting expression of said nucleic acid; and, isolating the polypeptide from one or more of the host cells or the medium.
  • a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a viral infection in a subject comprising: administering to the subject, a virus of embodiment 17 in an amount effective to produce an immunogenic response against the viral infection.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 19.
  • a split virus or killed virus vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 19.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 24.
  • a split virus or killed virus vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 24.
  • a method for producing influenza viruses in cell culture comprising: i) introducing into a population of host cells, which population of host cells is capable of supporting replication of influenza virus, a plurality of vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding at least 6 internal genome segments of a first influenza strain, wherein the first influenza strain is A/ Ann Arbor/6/60; and, at least one genome segment encoding an immunogenic influenza surface antigen of a second influenza strain, wherein said second strain is a pandemic influenza strain, ii) culturing the population of host cells at a temperature less than or equal to 35°C; and, iii) recovering a plurality of influenza viruses.
  • the plurality of vectors comprise at least one isolated nucleic acid, wherein said nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polynucleotide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOS: 21-26 or 33-38, or 45, or a complementary sequence thereof; b) a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of one of SEQ ID NOS: 27-32 or 39-44, or a complementary polynucleotide sequence thereof; c) a polynucleotide sequence which hybridizes under highly stringent conditions over substantially the entire length of polynucleotide sequence (a); and d) a polynucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the polynucleotide sequence of (a).
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus of embodiment 29.
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus of embodiment 30.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus of embodiment 29 in a physiologically effective carrier.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus of embodiment 30 in a physiologically effective carrier.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual the immunogenic composition of embodiment 31.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual the immunogenic composition of embodiment 32.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the immunogenic composition of embodiment 31.
  • a split virus or killed virus vaccine comprising the immunogenic composition of embodiment 32.
  • polynucleotide wherein said polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 21-26 or 33-38 or 45, or a complementary sequence thereof; b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 27-32 or 39-44, or a complementary nucleotide sequence thereof; c) a polynucleotide which hybridizes under highly stringent conditions over substantially the entire length of the polynucleotide of (a); and d) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the polynucleotide of (a).
  • a cell comprising at least one polynucleotide of embodiment 8.
  • a vector comprising the polynucleotide of embodiment 8.
  • the vector of embodiment 11 wherein the vector is a plasmid, a cosmid, a phage, a virus, or a fragment of a virus.
  • a cell comprising the vector of embodiment 13.
  • An influenza virus comprising one or more polynucleotides of embodiment 8.
  • a 6:2 reassortant influenza virus wherein said virus comprises 6 internal genome segments from A/ Ann Arbor/6/60 and 2 genome segments that encode an HA and/or a NA polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:27-32, and 39-44.
  • a method of producing a reassortant influenza virus comprising: culturing the cell of embodiment 14 in a suitable culture medium under conditions permitting expression of said polynucleotide; and, isolating the reassortant influenza virus from a cell population comprising said cell or the medium.
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the reassortant influenza virus of embodiment 17.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the reassortant influenza virus of embodiment 17 in a physiologically effective carrier.
  • a method of producing an isolated or recombinant polypeptide comprising: culturing the cell of embodiment 10 in a suitable culture medium under conditions permitting expression of said polynucleotide; and, isolating the polypeptide from the cell or the medium.
  • a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a viral infection in a subject comprising: administering to the subject, the virus of embodiment 17 in an amount effective to produce an immunogenic response against the viral infection.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 19.
  • a split virus or killed virus vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 19.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 24.
  • a split virus or killed virus vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 24.
  • a method for producing an influenza virus in cell culture comprising: i) introducing into a population of host cells, which population of host cells is capable of supporting replication of influenza virus, a plurality of vectors comprising nucleotide sequences corresponding to at least 6 internal genome segments of A/ Ann Arbor/6/60; and, at least one genome segment comprising a polynucleotide encoding an HA and/or a NA polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:27-32, and 39-44, ii) culturing the population of host cells at a temperature less than or equal to 35 0 C; and, iii) recovering an influenza virus.
  • the polynucleotide encoding the HA and/or NA polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:21, 23-26 or 33-38, or 45, or a complementary nucleotide sequence thereof; b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 27-32 or 39-44, or a complementary nucleotide sequence thereof; c) a polynucleotide which hybridizes under highly stringent conditions over substantially the entire length of the polynucleotide of (a); and d) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the polynucleotide of (a).
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus produced by the method of embodiment 29.
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus produced by the method of embodiment 30.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus produced by the method of embodiment 29 in a physiologically effective carrier.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus produced by the method of embodiment 30 in a physiologically effective carrier.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual the immunogenic composition of embodiment 31.
  • a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a viral infection in a subject comprising: administering to the subject, the virus of embodiment 39 in an amount effective to produce an immunogenic response against the viral infection.
  • a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a viral infection in a subject comprising: administering to the subject, the virus of embodiment 41 in an amount effective to produce an immunogenic response against the viral infection.
  • a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a viral infection in a subject comprising: administering to the subject, the virus of embodiment 42 in an amount effective to produce an immunogenic response against the viral infection.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 45.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the composition of embodiment 46.
  • a method for producing an influenza virus in cell culture comprising: i) introducing into a population of host cells, which population of host cells is capable of supporting replication of influenza virus, a plurality of vectors comprising nucleotide sequences corresponding to:
  • influenza strain (b) at least 6 internal genome segments of a first influenza strain, wherein the first influenza strain is not A/Ann Arbor/6/60 and which influenza strain comprises one or more phenotypic attributes selected from the group consisting of: attenuated, cold adapted and temperature sensitive; and, at least one genome segment encoding an HA or an NA polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS:27-32, and 39-44, ii) culturing the population of host cells at a temperature less than or equal to 35 0 C; and, iii) recovering an influenza virus.
  • An immunogenic composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus produced by the method of embodiment 66.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual an immunologically effective amount of the influenza virus produced by the method of embodiment 66 in a physiologically effective carrier.
  • a method for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce a protective immune response against influenza virus comprising administering to the individual the immunogenic composition of embodiment 67.
  • a live attenuated influenza vaccine comprising the immunogenic composition of embodiment 67.
  • a split virus or killed virus vaccine comprising the immunogenic composition of embodiment 67.
  • Amino acid sequence of ca A/Vietnam/ 1203/04 H5 (SEQ ID NO: 11) Entire molecule length: 564 aa
  • Amino acid sequence of ca A/Vietnam/ 1203/04 Nl (SEQ ID NO: 12) Entire molecule length: 449 aa
  • Amino acid sequence of ca A/Hong Kong/213/03 H5 (SEQ ID NO: 13) Entire molecule length: 564 aa
  • Amino acid sequence of ca A/Hong Kong/213/03 Nl (SEQ ID NO: 14) Entire molecule length: 469 aa
  • Nucleotide sequence of c ⁇ A/ck/Hong Kong/G9/97 N2 (SEQ ID NO: 10) Entire molecule length: 1428 bp i aaatgaatcc aaatcagaag ataatagcaa ttggctctgt ttctctaact
  • Nucleotide sequence of A/Netherlands/219/03 H7 (SEQ ID NO: 21) Entire molecule length: 1737 bp i agcaaaagca ggggatacaa aatgaacact caaatcctgg tattcgctct
  • Amino acid sequence of A/Netherlands/219/03 N7 (SEQ ID NO: 28) Entire molecule length: 471 aa

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des polypeptides, des polynucléotides, des procédés, des compositions, et des vaccins contenant des variants d'hémagglutinine et de neuraminidase de la grippe (aviaire pandémique).
EP07840814.3A 2006-08-09 2007-08-09 Variants d'hémagglutinine et de neuraminidase de la grippe Withdrawn EP2056872A4 (fr)

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